Jason (petitioner) presented citizen warrant Article V at the Jan. 3, 2025 meeting of the Town of Nantucket Finance Committee, asking the committee to recommend a charter change to permit the town to publish certain legally required public notices and hearing advertisements in an electronic medium in addition to the newspaper.

Jason said he drafted the article after seeing many legal notices in the Inquirer & Mirror and worrying about residents who miss the print notices. "People get information in different places, these days, electronically," he said, and the charter amendment would "provide another option to reach an audience that may or may not be reading the newspaper."

Committee members asked about potential cost impacts and whether state law would still require print publication for some notices. Peter (finance committee member) asked if the change would increase costs; Jason replied it "could choose to do it in the newspaper still" and might save money depending on contracts. John Georgiou (attorney) cautioned that the amendment would apply only to notices required locally, not to those required by state law. He offered the finance committee the example of the finance committee's own public hearing on citizen warrant articles as a hearing that could be advertised under a local provision in a nonnewspaper medium.

Committee members generally supported the option. Rob and Steven noted that readership is shifting away from print and favored providing another channel; town administration had reviewed the proposal and concluded the overall cost and benefit were likely "a wash" because some notices will remain governed by statute and require print publication.

Peter moved to recommend adoption of Article V; Jeremy seconded. The committee took a roll-call vote and voted unanimously to recommend adoption. Denise thanked Jason; the motion carried without dissent.