The legislative powers of the Town shall be exercised by a Town
Meeting open to all voters.
The Moderator, elected as provided in Section 3-5, shall preside at all sessions of the Town Meeting. Annually, at the first session of the Spring Town Meeting, the Moderator shall appoint a Deputy Moderator to serve until the next Spring Town Meeting as acting moderator in the event of the temporary absence or disability of the Moderator. The appointment of a Deputy Moderator shall be subject to ratification by the Town Meeting. The Deputy Moderator shall have all of the powers of the Moderator when presiding at Town Meeting sessions, but shall have no other powers or duties of the Moderator.
The Moderator, at Town Meetings, shall regulate the proceedings,
decide all questions of order, make public declaration of all votes
and may exercise such additional powers and duties as may be authorized
by general law, by this Charter, by bylaw or by other vote of the
Town Meeting.
(a)Â
In general. Subject to the provisions of this Charter and such bylaws
or other Town Meeting votes regarding committees as may be provided,
the Moderator shall appoint for fixed terms the members of such committees
of the Town Meeting, special or standing, as may from time to time
be established. In addition to such specific powers, duties and responsibilities
as may be provided to a Town Meeting committee by the bylaw or vote
establishing it, each such committee, when acting within the scope
of its authority, shall have a right to examine the pertinent records
of any Town agency and to consult with, at reasonable times, any Town
officer, employee or agent.
(b)Â
Finance Committee. There shall be a Finance Committee, the members
of which shall be appointed by the Moderator. The number of members,
the term of office and any other conditions of appointment or service
as may be deemed necessary or desirable shall be established by bylaw.
The subject matter of all proposals to be submitted to a Town Meeting
by warrant articles shall be referred to the Finance Committee by
the Select Board within five business days following their receipt
by the Select Board. The Finance Committee shall report its recommendations
on every article contained in a Town Meeting warrant, in writing.
Provisions for the distribution of such report shall be made by bylaw.
Before preparing its recommendations the Finance Committee shall hold
one or more public hearings to permit public discussion of the subject
matter of all articles contained in the warrant, excepting the election
of officers, if applicable. The Finance Committee shall have such
additional powers and duties as may be provided by general law or
by bylaw.[1]
[Amended 10-21-2019 FTM by Art. 3]
[Amended 10-21-2019 FTM by Art. 3]
The Annual Town Meeting shall convene in regular session two
times in each calendar year. The first session, to be held in either
April, May, or June, as determined by the Select Board, shall be primarily,
though not exclusively, concerned with the determination of matters
involving the expenditure of Town funds, including, but not limited
to, the adoption of an annual operating budget for all Town agencies.
The second session shall be held in September, October, or November
as determined by the Select Board.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FTM by Art. 3]
Special Town Meetings may be held at the call of the Select
Board at such times as it deems necessary, or desirable, in order
to transact the legislative business of the Town in an orderly manner.
Special Town Meetings may also be held on the petition of 200 or more
voters, in the manner provided by general law. The Town Clerk shall
make forms for the calling of a Special Town Meeting available to
voters, upon request.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FTM by Art. 3]
Every Town Meeting shall be called by a warrant issued by the
Select Board which shall state the time and place at which the meeting
is to convene and, by separate articles, the subject matter to be
acted upon. The publication of the warrant for every Town Meeting
shall be in accordance with a Town bylaw governing such matters.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FTM by Art. 3]
(a)Â
Initiation. The Select Board shall receive at any time all petitions
addressed to it which request the submission of any article to the
Town Meeting. The Board shall include all articles which are filed
by:
(b)Â
Referral. Upon the closing of any Town Meeting warrant, the Select
Board shall cause a copy of the proposed articles to be forwarded
to the Finance Committee, the Town Moderator and the Town Clerk. In
addition, a copy shall be posted on the Town bulletin boards.
(c)Â
Inclusion on warrant. The Select Board shall close the warrant for an Annual Town Meeting on the date established by bylaw for such closing preceding the date on which the Town Meeting is scheduled, by bylaw, to convene. The Select Board shall not include in any such warrant the subject matter of any petition which has been received by it after said day nor shall any matter originating with it be included after said date. Whenever a Special Town Meeting is to be called, the Select Board shall give notice by publication in a local newspaper of such intention and shall notify all Town agencies of its intention to do so. The Select Board shall include in the warrant for such Special Town Meeting the subject matter of all petitions which are received at its office on or before the official close of business in the afternoon of the fifth business day following such publication which are in conformity with the provisions of Section 2-7(a) and which specifically request that the subject matter be included on the warrant for said Special Town Meeting.
All Town officials and board or committee chairpersons, or a
designee of any of these, shall attend all sessions of the Town Meeting
at which warrant articles pertinent to their agency may be acted upon,
and shall be prepared to provide the meeting with all relevant information
concerning the same. If any such person is not a voter of the Town,
said person shall, notwithstanding, have the right to address the
meeting for the purpose of compliance with this section.
The Town Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Town Meeting, give
notice of all adjourned sessions thereof, record its proceedings,
and perform such additional duties in connection therewith as may
be provided by general law, by this Charter, by bylaw or by other
Town Meeting vote.
The Town Meeting may, by bylaw, establish and from time to time
amend, revise or repeal rules to govern the conduct of all Town Meetings.
All powers of the Town, except as otherwise provided by law
or this Charter, shall be vested in the Town Meeting. The Town Meeting
shall provide for the exercise of all of the powers of the Town and
for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the
Town for which no other provision is made in this Charter, or by bylaw.
