Westford Provides Childcare at Town Meeting to Increase Accessibility

In March 2025, the town of Westford took a step toward making local governance more accessible by providing childcare services at Town Meeting. This initiative allowed parents to participate in municipal decision-making without worrying about childcare arrangements.

During the Westford Selectboard meeting on March 13, 2025, a community member noted that "several babysitters provided childcare at the Town Meeting" and expressed that "it was a great move for the town to show parents they are welcome in public meetings." According to this report, between six and seven children were cared for during the meeting.

The provision of childcare at Town Meeting followed earlier discussions about accessibility. At a January 23, 2025 Selectboard meeting, officials addressed a resident's concern about the 7 p.m. start time for town meeting being difficult for families with young children. The Town Administrator reported that she was "currently trying to find childcare options for town meeting day" and was "working with the school to find an appropriate area that could be used for childcare."

This initiative came after previous discussions about childcare at municipal meetings. In October 2024, a resident expressed disappointment about the lack of childcare at a Special Town Meeting and questioned whether families were welcome at meetings. The Selectboard members generally agreed that childcare should be provided, with one member noting that in the past, childcare had been provided by organizations like the PTA.

The town's efforts align with broader discussions happening across Vermont about increasing accessibility to municipal meetings. In 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 133, which created a Working Group on Participation and Accessibility of Municipal Public Meetings and Elections. Among other tasks, this working group was charged with investigating "whether increased use of resources for participants such as child care, hearing devices, translators, transportation, food, and hybrid meetings could increase participation in local public meetings."

Other Vermont municipalities have also recognized the importance of childcare for civic participation. In Richmond, during a February 2025 Special Selectboard meeting, a participant noted that providing childcare and dinner at annual meetings helped increase attendance. Another participant "concurred that offering childcare so young parents could attend Selectboard or budget meetings would be useful."

The Westford initiative demonstrates how removing barriers to participation can make local democracy more inclusive and accessible to all community members, regardless of their family status.