Town of Marshfield, MA Chapter A901 Town Meeting Rules

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Marshfield 2006; amended by the Special Town Meeting October 2009. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

§ A901-1 Rules.

A. The conduct of Marshfield's Town Meeting is dictated by federal and state law, the Town's Charter and bylaws, local tradition, and then the publication titled "Town Meeting Time."

B. The Moderator shall preside over Town Meeting, decide all questions of order and procedure, and announce the results of all votes.

C. The Moderator may call for a voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, roll-call vote or secret ballot. A motion for any of these voting methods may be made at any time during the discussion phase of an article by a recognized voter. If the results of a voice vote or a show of hands vote are questioned by seven voters standing immediately after the announced vote, a standing vote will be taken without debate. A majority of the voters must approve any motion for a roll-call vote or a vote by secret ballot. No voter will be subject to declaring his vote before said vote is called.

D. All matters shall be decided by a majority vote unless a two-thirds or greater vote is required. If more than a majority vote is required, the Moderator shall announce the required percentage for passage before calling for the vote.

E. In order for Town Meeting to act on or discuss an article, a motion must be made. The Moderator will call for a motion on each article. If no motion is made after the second call, the Moderator will pass over the article and move on to the next article. In order to bring back a passed over article for discussion, a motion for reconsideration must be approved by a majority vote.

F. A motion may be reconsidered once by a majority vote. No further reconsideration will be permitted unless the Moderator determines that there has been a significant procedural error or that there is new information likely to affect the vote. There will be no reconsideration of a vote either on a subsequent evening or after 10:30 p.m. on the evening of the vote in question.

G. Articles may be postponed by a majority vote or advanced by approval of the Moderator and a two-thirds vote.

H. To address Town Meeting, a speaker must first be recognized by the Moderator then give his or her name and address for the record. No speaker will be recognized while another person is speaking except to raise a point of order, which is used to question a ruling of the Moderator or the conduct of the Town Meeting. Points of order are not to address the subject matter being discussed.

I. The Moderator may set time limits on all presentations and may terminate debate on a motion when he deems it appropriate. Debate on a motion may also be terminated by a recognized voter moving the question, which, if accepted by the Moderator as not being premature, shall be voted on without discussion or debate. A motion to move the question requires a two-thirds vote for passage. The Moderator may set limits on the number of times a voter can speak on an article.

J. Articles in the warrant give notice of the subjects to be discussed at Town Meeting and establish the parameters of matters that can be debated and acted upon. Amendments, motions, and/or debate determined by the Moderator, with the advice of Town Counsel, to be beyond the scope of the articles may not be permitted.

K. Only two amendments to a motion may be on the floor at any particular time. Generally, amendments shall be voted on in the order made and prior to the vote on the motion to be amended. Amendments over 10 words must be submitted to the Moderator in writing and, if over 50 words, sufficient copies must be available at the entrance of the hall before the start of that particular session.

L. Consideration of differing dollar amounts to be appropriated shall be voted on in descending order, the largest number first, until an amount gains approval.

M. Nonvoters will be seated in a special section unless permission is granted by the Town Meeting to be seated elsewhere. Nonvoters may be allowed to address the Town Meeting with permission of the Moderator unless a majority of voters choose to deny such a privilege.

N. A resolution is a nondebatable, nonbinding motion on any matter calling for a consensus of the Town Meeting. If a resolution is over 10 words, it must be submitted to the Moderator in writing and, if over 50 words, sufficient copies must be available at the entrance of the hall to those attending.

O. No new business will be taken up after 10:30 p.m. on any evening.

P. When justice or order requires, the Moderator may make exceptions to these rules as he/she, in his/her discretion, deems it appropriate under the circumstances and with the concurrence of the majority of the voters.

Q. The Town Clerk shall report to Town Meeting on signage.