Westborough Select Board Withdraws Charter Petition, Plans Revised Fall Town Meeting Vote

WESTBOROUGH -- May 4, 2026, Westborough Select Board votes unanimously to withdraw charter petition over unintended language. The board voted 4-0 on May 4 to pull House Bill 4571, a home rule petition seeking to raise the citizen signature threshold for Town Meeting warrant articles, after members concluded that the bill's language would also apply the new requirement to articles submitted by any board or appointed body. Member Patrick Welch said the discussion at the October 2025 Town Meeting "never revolved around anything other than the increase in the citizens' signature requirement" and called it inappropriate to advance the measure without returning to voters. Member Mark Silverberg said the bill should be "written correctly as to how we want it." Town Administrator Joanne confirmed the board cannot pause the petition and must start fresh after Fall Town Meeting authorizes new language, meaning the revised signature rule will not be in place for the spring Town Meeting cycle.