The Advisory Committee received an update from the Town Council Study Committee on Feb. 15 about its ongoing work to propose a transition from a Select Board to a Town Council form of government.

What the study committee reported: Committee members said they favor an at‑large council rather than precinct‑based representation, citing difficulties fairly drawing precinct boundaries on the island. The study group discussed candidate recruitment and said it hopes to produce at least 15 candidates for nine seats to ensure a competitive and geographically representative field. The committee also discussed councilor compensation, with options presented ranging from modest stipends to amounts the committee said would more closely compensate members for the time commitment; examples from other Massachusetts municipalities and a state representative salary were raised during the meeting.

Timing and legal steps: The study group is engaging the Collins Center and expects to consult KP Law on draft language. The committee reported it may pursue inclusion of a town‑council article on a special town meeting warrant (discussed as possible in November) and noted legislative timing at the state level could affect election scheduling; one meeting participant said April was a possible election date depending on the legislature’s calendar. The town clerk and other officials are advising on election dates and logistics.

Public outreach and next steps: The study committee said it plans to present at the annual town meeting in May to gauge voter sentiment and noted that town meeting approval is one step before the state legislature would enact governance changes. The committee plans a one‑page explanation for voters and intends to continue public outreach, including recruiting potential candidates and coordinating with the Select Board on required funding for consultant and legal reviews.

Ending note: The study committee said it will continue its review, finalize draft warrant language with KP Law, and return with more detail to advisory groups. No committee vote or formal action by the Advisory Committee was recorded on this update.