Sharon Town Meeting To Be Held Outdoors Columbus Day Weekend

SHARON, MA — The Sharon fall annual town meeting will be headed outdoors to the Sharon High football field on Oct. 11 amid the coronavirus crisis.

Town officials announced the Sunday meeting will be on Columbus Day weekend to allow for a rain date the following day, in case of bad weather, and to conclude the town meeting before early voting begins for the Nov. 3 general election.

In the event of a weekend of rain, the town meeting will move indoors to Sharon High on Oct. 13 at night.

Officials said the Select Board will vote to confirm the dates at its meeting next week.

"We recognize that the chosen weekend is Columbus Day weekend, but believe early notice to citizens will allow those interested in participating in town meeting to attend," officials said in a letter to the community. "It was the only option that provided a consecutive day rain date option rather than a week later. It had the advantage of keeping the schedule condensed to hold voter attention and minimize operational disruptions that would be caused by setting up the venue on consecutive Sundays."

Those attending the town meeting will have access to restrooms inside Sharon High. There will be no PowerPoint or screen displays, so voters will have to rely on the warrant, which will either be published or printed on a handout that will be given to attendees.

Officials said a Zoom warrant will be set up in advance of the annual town meeting to answer questions in advance and cut down on time spent on each warrant the day of the meeting.