ROCKPORT — Two years ago, Rockport's Town Meeting fell the day before Easter, leading to widespread grumbling about the difficulty of both celebrating the holiday and joining in town decisions at the community's biggest civic exercise.
This year, Town Meeting's traditional date on the first Saturday in April is not only Easter weekend, but is also the first full day of Passover.
Selectmen's solution: Move the date of Town Meeting back one week, to April 14.
While the plan gained selectmen's unanimous approval Tuesday night, some town officials Wednesday expressed disapproval.
"It goes on the calendars of a lot of committees months in advance, and they make plans around it," said Barbara Sparks, chairwoman of the Planning Board, who said she would not be able to attend Town Meeting if it were to be held April 14; she said she already has tickets to watch the Metropolitan Opera simulcast of "La Traviata" that day at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.
Sparks said that, in addition to her own plans that day, consulting planner Carolyn Britt will be out of the country that week, and Sparks said she did not want to present bylaw changes to the town without Britt's presence and support.
When Sparks' probable inability to attend the later day was raised Tuesday, selectmen noted, however, that while Sparks leads the board, there are other members who could present the articles.
There was some question about selectmen's authority to change the meeting date, but according to Town Clerk Pat Brown, it is all within their purview.
"Massachusetts General Law does allow for the Board of Selectmen to change it," Brown said.
A town bylaw states that Town Meeting should take place on the first Saturday in April, but Massachusetts law gives town governing boards the power to delay the meeting, provided that the delay allows for town business to be completed by the end of June.
Selectmen cannot, however, move the date of Town Meeting forward.
Brown expressed concern that changing the date of Town Meeting could adversely affect the town election. According to a check of the laws, however, there seems to be no reason that the change would do any damage to the election, which could also be delayed by one week.
"We should try to change it," said Selectwoman Francis Fleming. "It affects so many people."
Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, and Passover holds a similar status in Judaism. Both holidays often are gather families together for large meals, whose preparations take time and could prevent some from attending Town Meeting.
"I'm glad they're moving it to allow people to celebrate Passover," said Rabbi Steven Lewis of Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester. Passover begins at sundown on April 6 this year, and large ceremonial dinners known as seders will be held Friday night and Saturday night, putting Jews who would spend the holiday with family out of town in the position of having to miss Town Meeting in order to observe their holiday.
Two years ago, the Town Meeting date also fell on Easter weekend, and the widespread consternation prompted selectmen to try to find a solution.
"No one formally complained, but people were upset," said Fleming. "I wasn't so thrilled myself."
Selectman Paul Murphy suggested that Rockport ought to consider moving Town Meeting to a Monday night in order to avoid the Easter issue, but, in the end, agreed to vote for the April 14 date.
"If we didn't change it, we would be incredibly insensitive," said Murphy. "We have to change it."
Stephanie Bergman can contacted at 978-283-7000 x3451 or sbergman@gloucestertimes.com
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