Approves town meeting timing, delays ruling on accessory dwelling units 

By Theresa Knapp

On Feb. 21, the Office of the Attorney General approved a by-law change passed by Mendon Special Town Meeting on Nov. 18, 2024. 

Annual Town Meeting 

In November, Special Town Meeting voted to approve a change in timing for Mendon’s Annual Town Meeting regarding “the transaction of business relating to the affairs for the town” from “the first Friday in May” to “within the first two weeks of May and before annual Town election.” 

According to a Feb. 24 letter from Mendon Town Clerk Ellen Agro to town departments, “On February 21, 2025, the MA Attorney General’s office approved this by-law without comment.” 

Zoning: Accessory Dwelling Units

At the November meeting, voters also approved an article related to zoning, specifically to add a new section related to “Accessory Dwelling Units,” however, in its Feb. 21 letter, the Attorney General said it needed to extend the deadline on that change. It said it would issue its decision before April 25, 2025, and noted “neither general nor zoning by-laws take effect unless the Town has first satisfied the posting/publishing requirements of that statute.” 

To see the full letters, visit www.mendonma.gov/town-clerk.