When Michael Curran was town moderator in Canton, attendance at town meeting was sometimes so low that officials would go to a nearby barroom to recruit voters so they could get a quorum.

The lack of voter interest in attending town meetings is just one of the many reasons he said are causing towns to change their form of government.

Norton is considering a change of government, and a study committee earlier this month recommended switching to a councilmanager form.

The open town meeting -- a New England tradition since post-Colonial days -- may no longer be practical in an era of political apathy and instant communication, Curran said.

For complete story, see today's Sun Chronicle.