Select Board sends election date change to warrant

Select Board · Meeting of March 4, 2026

NAHANT — The Nahant Select Board voted to send warrant articles moving the town election to June and cutting speaking time at town meeting. Town Administrator Allison said the current April election, held before the May town meeting, forces residents to wait nearly a year for ballot questions to take effect; her proposal would shift the election to the second Tuesday in June and cut speaking time from 10 minutes to four minutes per period. Town Clerk Diane Dunphy and Town Moderator Peter Barba both backed the changes.

Resident Kerry Collins objected, saying limiting speech "feels kind of counterproductive for like our democracy," while resident Brendan Olmsted questioned whether most articles even need the change. The board also appointed Ian Brown and Scott O'Frius as Zoning Board of Appeals alternates and raised the water and sewer budget assessment to $618,000.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.