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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 7
Warrant Article Title:
BYLAW AMENDMENT / ARLINGTON COMMISSION FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title II, Article 8 of the Town
Bylaws to make administrative updates, including to membership
processes and procedures, for the Arlington Commission for Arts
and Culture; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture and the
Department of Planning and Community Development Select
Board 2026 Article Hearings - right click to view in new tab
Report Excerpt:
Vote and comment to Town Meeting - Favorable Action (5-0)
Through this article, the proponents seek to amend the Town
Bylaws to allow for the appointment of non-residents to
committees of the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture
(ACAC). In addition, the proponents request a change in the
appointing authority of one of the Core Committee member
appointments from the Cultural District Managing Partnership,
which no longer exists as a stand-alone entity, to an additional at-
large member recommended by the Town Manager and
appointed by the Select Board. The Board supports both
proposed changes.
The Board agrees with the proponents that in some cases, it may
be appropriate to appoint a non-resident of Arlington to an ACAC
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Committee. Specifically, although there are members of the
Arlington business community or non-profit arts community who
are Arlington residents and are willing to serve, there are also
willing and capable non-residents of those communities who are
invested in the Town's arts and cultural scene who could make
valuable contributions to the Commission.
Vote Language:
That the Town does and hereby amend Title II, Article 8, Sections
2 and 3 of the Town’s Bylaws, or take any action related thereto,
so that the new Sections read:
Section 2. Core Committee Membership, Quorum, Administration
& Organization
A. The Core Committee shall consist of up to 13 voting
members appointed pursuant to subsection (1) below and
a liaison from the Dept. of Planning and Community
Development. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the
current voting Core Committee Members, and all actions
shall be made pursuant to a majority vote of members in
attendance. The Committee shall organize for the conduct
of its affairs and shall elect its own officers. Members of
the Core Committee may be non-residents of the Town of
Arlington.
1. Core Committee Appointments and Membership
a. Core Committee members shall be sourced from, or
appointed by the following:
i. One (1) at-large member appointed by the
Arlington School Committee for an initial three-
year term;
ii. One (1) member of the Cultural District Managing
Partnership or their designee;
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iii.ii. One member of the Grants Committee set forth
in section 3 below;
iv. iii.One member of up to four (4) action
committees set forth in section 3 below;
v. iv.ThreeFour (3)(4) at-large members
recommended by the Town Manager and
appointed by the Select Board, one of which shall
serve an initial one-year term, one to serve an
initial two-year term, and one of which to serve
an initial three-year term;
vi. v.One (1) representative of the Town of Arlington
business community for an initial one-year
term appointed by the Town Manager;
vii. vi.One (1) representative of the Town of
Arlington’s non-profit arts community for an initial
two-year term appointed by the Town Manager;
viii. vii.One (1) representative of the local community
of working artists for an initial three-year term
appointed by the Town Manager;
ix.viii. The Director of Planning and Community
Development, or their designee shall serve as a
Department liaison to the Core Committee.
b. All appointed Core Committee members shall be
eligible for reappointment for a three-year term.
c. Members may be removed by the appointing
authority upon request of a majority of the
Commission for three or more unexcused absences
from Commission meetings in any calendar year.
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d. A vacancy of an appointed Core Committee seat
shall be filled by the Select Board, School
Committee, or Manager consistent with the
foregoing.
Section 3. Grants Committee, Other Action Committees & Ad Hoc
Committees
A. Grants Committee. The Arlington Cultural Council shall
hereafter operate as the Grants Committee of the
Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture.
1. The Grants Committee shall identify arts and culture
grant opportunities for the Town and its communities,
apply for such grants, and where appropriate,
distribute such funds.
2. The Grants Committee shall also serve as the Local
Cultural Council for the purposes of G.L. c. 10 § 58.
3. The Grants Committee shall be organized, appointed,
and administered consistent with the requirements of
c. 10 § 58.
4. All members of the Arlington Cultural Council serving at
the time of passage of this bylaw shall continue the
remainder of their appointed terms.
5. Members of the Grants Committee may be non-
residents of the Town of Arlington.
B. Action Committees
The Core Committee may establish and/or disband up to four
(4) additional action committees in the areas of operations
listed below to be composed and organized as directed by the
Core Committee, including the number of members and such
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members’ terms of service.: Members of action committees
may be non-residents of the Town of Arlington.
1. Public Art
2. Programs and Festivals
3. Marketing and Evaluation
4. Resource Development
C. Core Committee Representation
As set forth in section 2, one member of the Grants
Committee and one member of each other active action
committee shall serve on the Core Committee.
D. The Core Committee may also establish or disband any
necessary ad hoc committees and advisory groups as
needed, but such groups shall not be represented on the Core
Committee. Members of the adhoc committees may be non-
residents of the Town of Arlington.
Select Board Report
