[Amended 4-29-1974 ATM, approved 1975 Annual Town Election; 4-28-1980 ATM, approved
1981 Annual Town Election; Laws 1990, c. 91, approved 1991 Annual
Town Election; 5-14-2001 STM, Art. 39, approved 2002 Annual Town Election; 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town Election]
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the
first Monday in May. The Selectboard shall insert all articles into
the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting which bear signatures of 10
or more registered voters of the Town. The Annual Town Meeting warrant
shall close to petitioned and budget articles on December 31 of the
year previous to the Annual Town Meeting. The warrant shall remain
open to the Selectboard until the first Tuesday in February.
The Selectboard may call a Special Town Meeting
at any time. The warrant for Special Town Meetings will remain open
for at least seven days from the call of the meeting. At least forty-two
days must pass between the close of the warrant for Special Town Meetings
and the holding of such meetings. Inhabitants of the Town of Stoughton
may, on their initiative, petition to have an Article placed for consideration
by Town Meeting Representatives at Special Town Meetings. Petitions
formed for this purpose must contain at least one hundred signatures
by registered voters of the Town. The Selectboard is required to call
a Special Town Meeting upon receipt of a petition formed by inhabitants
of the Town containing at least two hundred signatures of registered
voters.
[Amended 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 17, approved 2020 Annual Town
Election; 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town Election]
The Moderator of the Town Meeting shall serve
for a term of two years. They shall be Moderator of all Town Meetings,
except as otherwise provided by law, until their successor is qualified.
Nominations for Moderator and their election shall be as in the case
of other elective Town officers and any vacancy in such office shall
be filled by the Deputy Town Moderator until the next regularly scheduled
election. The Moderator shall not have a vote on Articles brought
before the Town Meeting except to create a tie vote or break a tie
vote of Town Meeting Representatives.
[Amended 4-30-1984 ATM, Art. 42, approved 1985 Annual Town Election]
The moderator may receive an annual compensation
as determined by a vote of town meeting.
[Amended 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town
Election]
A Deputy Town Moderator shall be elected by
the Town Meeting Representatives at the organizational meeting to
preside over the Town Meeting in the absence of the Moderator. They
shall be a member of the Rules Committee of the Town Meeting, but
shall not be a voting member of that committee unless the Moderator
is absent from a meeting, in which case the Deputy Town Moderator
shall vote in their place. In the event the position of Deputy Town
Moderator becomes vacant, the Town Meeting Representatives shall,
as the first order of business at the next regular or Special Town
Meeting, elect a new Deputy Town Moderator to fill the unexpired term.
[Amended 1-17-1977 STM, approved 1977 Annual Town Election; 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town Election]
There shall be elected from each voting precinct twenty-one Town Meeting Representatives, all of whom shall be eligible to vote at Town Meetings. The Town Meeting Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years by registered voters of each precinct. At the first regular Town election held after voting precincts have been established by the Registrars of Voters, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of this Charter, the seven elected Town Meeting Representatives from each precinct receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of three years, the next highest seven shall serve for two years, and the next highest shall serve for one year. Town Meeting Representatives shall then be elected as their terms of office expire for three-year terms. The Town Clerk, shall, after the election of Town Meeting Representatives, notify by mail each such member of their election.
[Amended 5-4-2009STM, Art. 59, approved 2010 Annual Town Election; Laws 2010,
c. 111]
In the event of any vacancy in the full number
of elected town meeting representatives from any precinct, the remaining
elected representatives of the precinct shall choose from among the
registered voters thereof a successor to serve until the next annual
election. The town clerk shall call a special meeting of the remaining
representatives from such precinct for the purpose of filling such
vacancy. The town clerk shall mail notice of the special meeting to
each representative from the precinct specifying the objective, time
and place of such meeting. The meeting shall be held not less than
4 days after mailing of such notice and not less than 14 days before
convening of the regular or a special town meeting during which the
vacancy is to be filled.
At such meeting, a majority of the remaining
representatives shall constitute a quorum. The election to fill such
vacancy shall be by ballot and the candidate or candidates receiving
the greatest number of votes cast shall be deemed elected and shall
be notified by the precinct clerk.
The precinct clerk shall forthwith file with
the town clerk a certificate of such election, together with a written
acceptance by the representative or representatives elected who shall
thereupon be deemed elected and qualified as town meeting representatives,
subject to the right of all the town meeting representatives to judge
of the election and qualification of the representatives.
[Added Laws 2010, c. 111]
The town clerk shall determine the number of full terms and
the number of partial terms to be elected to the office of town meeting
representative. The ballot shall indicate the total number of town
meeting representatives to be elected, the number of full terms to
be filled, and the number and term of years of partial terms to be
filled, and the candidates shall be listed together on the ballot
as required by section 8-5. The ballot shall also include such directions
as shall aid the voter relative to the manner of election provided
for in this section. At the close of the election, in descending order,
the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected
to the 3-year terms to be filled at the election, the candidates receiving
the next highest number of votes shall be elected to the 2-year terms
to be filled at the election and after those vacancies are filled,
the candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall be
elected to the 1-year terms to be filled at the election.
[Amended 5-4-2009 STM, Art. 60, approved 2010 Annual Town Election]
The Town Clerk shall post in the Town Hall and
shall publish in a local newspaper or publish on the official town
website a list of Town Meeting Representatives present and a list
of Town Meeting Representatives absent from all Annual and Special
Town Meetings by sessions within thirty (30) days of the dissolution
of each meeting.
All powers of the Town shall be vested in the
Representative Town Meeting, except as otherwise provided by law or
by this Charter. The Representative Town Meeting shall provide for
the exercise of the powers of the Town and for the performance of
all duties and obligations imposed upon the Town.
General rules for conduct of the Town Meeting
shall be chosen by the Town Meeting Representatives at their annual
organizational meeting. Rules and procedures for speaking shall be
determined from time to time and shall be applied to all speakers,
whether they are Town Meeting Representatives or inhabitants of the
Town.
All Town Meetings shall be public. The Town
Clerk shall notify the Town Meeting Representatives of the time and
place at which the Representative Town Meetings are to be held and
shall send the notices by mail at least seven days before the meeting.
A majority of the Town Meeting Representatives shall constitute a
quorum for doing business; but a lesser number may organize temporarily
and may adjourn from time to time. Any inhabitant of the Town who
is not a Town Meeting Representative may speak at any Representative
Town Meeting but shall not vote.
[Amended 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town
Election]
An Organizational Town Meeting shall be held
by Town Meeting Representatives on the Thursday preceding the Annual
Town Meeting for the purposes only of electing Chairpersons and Clerks
of the precinct delegations, electing the Deputy Town Moderator, and
adopting Town Meeting rules and procedures.
The first order of business at the Organizational
Town Meeting shall be the election of Chairpersons and Clerks for
the precinct delegations. Each precinct delegation shall elect a Chairperson
and Clerk. A quorum of precinct Representatives must be present for
the election of these officers, and the candidate who receives the
greatest number of votes shall be deemed elected.
The second order of business at the organizational
meeting shall be the election of the Deputy Town Moderator. They shall
be elected in the manner set forth in § C7-4 of this Charter.
The third and final order of business at the
Organizational Town Meeting shall be the adoption of rules and procedures
governing the conduct of the Representative Town Meeting.
The Town Clerk shall notify Town Meeting Representatives
of the organizational meeting at least seven days before it meets.
Town Meeting Representatives shall serve without
remuneration but may receive reimbursement for the actual and necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
[Amended 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town
Election]
The presence at all Annual and Special Town
Meetings is required of the Chairperson of the Selectboard, the Chairperson
of the School Committee, and the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance
and Taxation if they are not an elected Town Meeting Representative,
the Town Manager, the Town Counsel, the Superintendent of Schools,
and the Town Engineer. These officers shall have all of the rights
and privileges of Town Meeting Representatives except they shall not
have the right to vote on any Article.
[Amended 1-17-1977 STM, approved 1977 Annual Town Election; 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town Election]
A.Â
There shall be a Town Meeting Committee on Rules consisting
of the Moderator, who shall be Chairperson, the Deputy Moderator ex
officio, and each Precinct Chairperson. All warrant Articles shall
first be referred to the Committee on Rules which shall subsequently
refer the Article to the appropriate standing committee or committees
for public hearing and recommendation to the Town Meeting. Standing
committees must deliver all warrant Articles referred to them to the
Town Meeting for action on the floor. No floor action may be taken
at Town Meetings without a public hearing and a standing committee
report on the Article.
B.Â
Other standing committees of Town Meeting shall include
and be limited to the following:
(1)Â
A Committee on Finance and Taxation which shall prepare
the budget Article. This Committee shall consist of nine members who
shall be appointed by the Moderator from the registered voters of
the Town and one member elected annually by and from each precinct
delegation at the Organizational Town Meeting. The nine appointed
members shall serve for three-year terms. The Moderator, at the first
Organizational Town Meeting held under this Charter, shall appoint
three Committee members for three year terms, three for two year terms,
and three for one year terms. All members of the Committee will serve
until their replacements are duly qualified, but no member shall serve
for more than nine years. Any member of the Committee who shall be
appointed or elected to Town office or a committee or board other
than the Personnel Board shall upon their qualification in such office,
or any member who shall remove from the Town shall upon such removal,
cease to be a member of the Committee. Members absent from one-third
of the regular meetings in any calendar year may be removed by a two-thirds
vote of the other members, present and voting. The Committee shall
choose its own officers. The members of the Committee shall serve
without salary.
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The Committee may employ, subject to an appropriation,
an Executive Secretary.
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In the event of any vacancy in its membership,
the Committee shall notify the Moderator and the moderator shall arrange
to have the vacancy filled. They shall appoint a new member if the
vacancy is from their appointments. Precinct delegations shall elect
members from among Town Meeting Representatives in their precinct
when the vacancy is from their number. If a Committee member who is
a Town Meeting Representative moves to another precinct in the Town,
they shall continue as a Committee member until the next annual Organizational
Town Meeting, at which time the precinct delegation from the precinct
they vacated will elect another member in their place to fill the
unexpired term.
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The Committee shall distribute a report to each
of the Town Meeting Representatives at least fourteen days in advance
of a Town Meeting. Its recommendations shall be those of a majority
of the entire Committee, but this shall not be construed to prevent
recommendations by a minority. The report shall state the total amount
of the appropriations recommended by it on the entire warrant and
the approximate tax rate based on such recommendations. The report
for the Annual Town Meeting shall contain a statement of the business
of the Committee during the year, with such recommendations or suggestions
as it may deem advisable on any matters pertaining to the welfare
of the Town. It may issue recommendations on referenda and other matters
on any ballot other than the choices of individuals for offices.
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The Committee shall have authority at any time
to investigate the books, accounts, and management of any department
of the Town and to employ such expert and other assistance as it may
deem advisable for that purpose; and the books and accounts of all
departments and officers of the Town shall be open to the inspection
of the Committee and any person employed by it for that purpose. The
Committee may appoint sub-committees of its members and delegate to
them such of its powers as it deems expedient.
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The various Town boards, officers and committees
charged with the expenditure of Town funds shall, not later than the
thirty-first of December of each year, prepare detailed estimates
of the amounts deemed by them necessary for the administration of
their respective offices or departments for the ensuing fiscal year,
with explanatory statements of the reasons for any changes from the
amounts appropriated for the same purpose in the preceding year. They
shall also prepare estimates of all probable items of income which
may be received by them during the ensuing year in connection with
the administration of their departments or offices, and a statement
of the amount of appropriation requested by them for the ensuing fiscal
year. Such estimates and statements shall be filed with the Town Manager
who shall at once transmit the same to the Selectboard.
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The Committee shall duly consider the estimates
and statements filed by the Town boards, officers, and committees,
and may confer with said boards, officers, and committees and hold
hearings. The Committee shall thereupon recommend such sums and in
such division of items as it considers necessary and convenient. It
shall place the recommendations of the Selectboard on the budget Article
in a way that they may be easily compared with its own.
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(2)Â
A Committee on Municipal Regulations which shall study
and report on Articles and bylaws and zoning regulations of the Town.
This Committee shall consist of Town Meeting Representatives who shall
serve for terms of one year. One member shall be appointed at large
by the Moderator, and one member shall be appointed by the Chairperson
of each precinct delegation.
(3)Â
A Committee on Municipal Operations which shall study
and report on Articles that affect functions performed by offices
and departments of Town government. This Committee shall consist of
Town Meeting Representatives who shall serve terms of one year. One
member shall be appointed at large by the Moderator, and one member
shall be appointed by the Chairperson of each precinct delegation.
(4)Â
A Committee on Intergovernmental Relations which shall
study and report on Articles which affect the relations of the Town
with other municipalities, regional government bodies, and agencies
of county, state, and federal government. This Committee shall consist
of Town Meeting Representatives who shall serve for terms of one year.
One member shall be appointed at large by the Moderator, and one member
shall be appointed by the Chairperson of each precinct delegation.
C.Â
The Moderator shall designate a temporary chairperson
to organize each standing committee. Committee vacancies shall be
filled by the Moderator except as otherwise provided for in this Article.
No Town Meeting Representative may serve on more than one standing
committee of the Town Meeting at one time.
The Town Meeting shall appoint additional committees
as it deems fit to facilitate its business.
[Amended 12-2-2019 STM, Art. 18, approved 2020 Annual Town
Election]
The Town Meeting or a duly authorized committee
of Town Meeting may require the attendance at any of its meetings
of elected or appointed Town officers, of members of boards, commissions,
committees or agencies of Town government, or of Town employees to
provide it with information and materials pertaining to matters appearing
on its current agenda. The head of each department shall be available
for attendance at the Town Meetings or shall designate a deputy to
respond for them in the event they must be absent due to illness or
another reasonable cause.
No less than seven days' notice to appear shall
be given to any person required to appear before the Town Meeting.
Any Town official whether elected or appointed and any member of a Town board, commission, or committee may serve on a committee of the Town Meeting except for standing committees set forth in § C7-14.
