Last April, I set out to fix a long-standing lack of transparency in how the Town Moderator makes decisions. For years, there was little visibility into how Town Meeting was run or how members were appointed to key committees like the Warrant Committee, Capital Budget Committee, Bylaw Review Committee, and building committees.

Nearly every other elected body in Belmont operates under Open Meeting Law. The Moderator traditionally did not.

I changed that by creating a Moderator’s Advisory Committee that meets under Open Meeting Law and advises on Town Meeting operations and committee appointments. Its members are Town Meeting Members elected by their precincts—not chosen by the Moderator—so the advice is independent and representative.

The Committee has already provided extensive input on improving Town Meeting and on committee appointments. While the Moderator isn’t bound by its recommendations, it creates something Belmont never had before: a public, transparent forum where the Moderator explains decisions and residents can see how they’re made.