(a) 
The legislative body of the town shall be a representative town meeting to consist of not less than 270 members and not more than the closest higher number of members necessary to achieve an equal number of members from each district who shall be elected to meet, deliberate, act and vote in the exercise of the corporate powers of the town at annual and special town meetings.
(b) 
The representative town meeting shall meet at the spring annual town meeting in the last 4 months of the fiscal year, on a date set by by-law. There shall also be a fall annual town meeting held on a date to be determined by the select board in the last 3 months of the calendar year, which meeting shall be an "annual town meeting" for purposes of the General Laws; provided, however, that the select board may, at its discretion, cancel the fall annual town meeting not later than September 15 in any year, so long as not more than 10 articles have been submitted under subsection (a) of section 2-9 for inclusion on the warrant at that fall annual town meeting and notice of the select board's action with regard to that town meeting shall be posted on the town bulletin boards. The select board's decision whether to hold a fall annual town meeting shall not affect the discretion of the select board to call for a special town meeting from time to time.
(c) 
Special town meetings may be called by the select board, pursuant to section 10 of chapter 39 of the General Laws or other applicable laws, at such times as the board shall deem appropriate.
(a) 
Eligibility — Any voter shall be eligible for election as a town representative; provided, however, that no person shall simultaneously serve in any elected town office as defined in section 3-1 or as a member of the finance and warrant committee established under clause (i) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of section 2-9 and as a town representative.
(b) 
Nomination of Candidates for Town Representative — Any incumbent elected town representative may become a candidate for re-election by filing written notice thereof with the town clerk not later than 56 days prior to the date of the next regular annual election. Nomination of candidates for the office of town representative may be made by nomination papers, which shall clearly show whether the candidate is a former town representative, and if an elected incumbent of such office, that the incumbent is a candidate for reelection, and shall bear no other political designation. Such papers shall be signed by not less than 10 voters of the district in which the candidate resides and from which the candidate seeks election, and shall be submitted to the board of registrars of voters not later than 49 days prior to the date of the next regular annual election. The board of registrars of voters shall check each name on the nomination papers and shall certify thereon the number of signatures that are names of voters in the district making the nomination. The nomination papers shall then be filed with the town clerk not later than 35 days preceding the date of election.
If a town representative is a candidate for re-election, these words, "Candidate for Re-election," shall be printed against that candidate's name as it appears on the ballot for the election of town officers; provided, however, that a town representative elected by the remaining town representatives of a district to fill a vacancy shall not be considered a candidate for reelection. No nomination paper shall be valid in respect to a candidate if it fails to have the candidate's written acceptance attached to or written thereon.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
(c) 
Removal of Town Representative from Town or District — A town representative who removes from the town shall forthwith cease to be a town representative. A town representative who removes from the district from which that representative was elected to another district within the town or who is so removed by a revision of district lines, may continue to serve as a member of the representative town meeting from the district from which that member was elected until the next regular annual election, at which time the remainder of that member's term, if any, shall be terminated and a vacancy from that district shall exist which shall be filled at that election. A person so removed from office may be elected as a town representative from the new district in which that person then resides at the same election. An elected town representative who is removed from the district from which the town representative was elected solely as a result of the establishment or revision of districts shall be entitled to use the words, "Candidate for Reelection" after the town representative's name on the ballot, even if, by so doing, the number of candidates for re-election listed on the ballot in that district exceeds the number of town representatives to be elected.
(a) 
Establishment or Revision of Districts and Tie Votes — At the first regular annual election held following the establishment or revision of districts made in accordance with section 6 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, all of the town representatives in each district with boundaries that are affected by the establishment or revision, shall be elected by official ballot by the voters in that district.
In each such district, the first third to the nearest whole number of town representatives elected in the order of votes received shall serve 3 years; the second third to the nearest whole number shall serve 2 years; and the remaining third to the nearest whole number shall serve 1 year from the date of their election. In case of a tie vote affecting the division into thirds, the town representatives elected from the district shall determine the same by written ballot in accordance with the procedures set out in subsection (c).
(b) 
Three-Year Terms — Upon the expiration of the terms of town representatives elected after the establishment or revision of districts and in all other cases as the terms of town representatives expire, candidates shall be elected for 3-year terms to fill expiring terms and candidates shall also be elected to fill the unexpired term of any existing vacancy.
(c) 
Tie Votes Generally — In the event of a tie vote for the office of town representative, other than under the first paragraph of subsection (a), the town clerk shall, within 17 days of the election, call all of the candidates for that office who are affected by the tie together at a convenient place and, under the supervision of the town clerk or a designee, any such ties shall be broken by written ballots cast by the elected town representatives present from that district.
A moderator, chosen in accordance with section 3-8, shall preside at all sessions of town meeting, but the moderator shall not have a vote unless the town representatives present and voting are equally divided. The moderator shall, at the first town meeting following each regular annual election, appoint, subject to the approval of the representative town meeting, from among the town representatives a deputy moderator to serve in the event of the moderator's absence or disability. In the case of an absence or disability of the moderator and the deputy moderator the representative town meeting shall elect from among its own membership a temporary moderator to act during that absence or disability. The moderator shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the office of moderator by by-law, rule or other vote of the representative town 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 all of the powers of the town and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the town.
(a) 
Vacancy — The office of a town representative shall become vacant upon a representative's death, resignation or removal from office in any manner authorized by law. No office of town representative shall be considered vacant unless: (i) a letter of resignation has been filed with the town clerk by such person; or (ii) the town clerk has issued a certificate that such person has died or has removed from the town or that the position has otherwise become vacant.
(b) 
Filling of Vacancies — A vacancy in the office of a town representative shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, at the next regular annual election if such election occurs within 120 days following the date the vacancy is established as described in subsection (a). If no such election is to be held within 120 days, the vacancy shall be filled by the properly nominated candidate for town representative receiving the highest number of votes at the last annual town election in that district, but who was not elected or appointed under this section. A town representative filling a vacancy provided in this paragraph shall serve until the next regular annual election, at which time the remainder of the term, if any, shall be filled by official ballot. If no such candidate exists, the vacancy shall be filled at a district caucus on or before the date of the next town meeting.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
The town clerk or the town clerk's designee shall serve as clerk of the town meeting. The clerk shall give notice of all town meetings to the town representatives and to the public, keep the record of its proceedings and perform such other duties as may be assigned by this charter, by by-law or by other vote of the representative town meeting.
(a) 
Procedure for Submission of Warrant Articles — The select board shall at all times receive all petitions which are addressed to it and which request the insertion of subjects in a warrant for a town meeting and are filed by: (i) any individual elected town officer, including a town representative; (ii) any appointed multiple member body, acting by a majority of its members; (iii) any 10 voters; or (iv) a person or agency authorized by by-law. The select board shall retain the original copy of each petition filed hereunder until at least 90 days following the expiration of the town meeting at which the petition is acted upon.
(b) 
Warrants — All matters which are received by the select board under subsection (a) above shall be placed on warrants issued by the select board at such convenient times as it may determine and as otherwise provided by the charter or by by-law. The original copy of all warrants for town meetings shall be kept in the office of the town clerk in a record book maintained for that purpose. A copy of the warrants shall be posted on the town bulletin boards and, unless otherwise addressed by by-law, by mailing a copy of the warrant to the place of residence of the moderator, all town representatives and such other persons as may be designated by by-law. The town clerk shall keep additional copies of all warrants available for distribution.
(c) 
Committees
(1) 
Standing Committees
(i) 
Finance and Warrant Committee — The finance and warrant committee, on which no town representative shall serve, shall consist of 9 members appointed by the moderator for 3-year terms, so arranged that the term of office of 3 members shall expire each year. The duties of the finance and warrant committee shall include those listed under paragraph (2) of this subsection and section 5A-6.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
(ii) 
Standing Committee on Planning and Zoning — The planning board, elected under section 3-9, shall be considered the standing committee on planning and zoning.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
(iii) 
Committee of District Chairs — The committee of district chairs shall be comprised of the town representatives elected as chair in each district of the town in accordance with subsection (h). The committee shall, as may be requested by the representative town meeting from time to time, or on its own initiative, and in consultation with the moderator, review the rules, procedures and conduct of town meetings and make recommendations with respect thereto to the select board and the representative town meeting.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
(iv) 
The representative town meeting may, by vote or by-law, create such additional standing committees as it deems necessary or desirable, which may consist of any combination of town representatives and other voters as may be provided by said vote or by-law.
(v) 
Application of Open Meeting Law and Administrative Procedures — All meetings of standing committees created under this subsection shall be subject to the open meeting law in sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A of the General Laws, as amended from time to time, and Article 6.
(2) 
Referral of Articles to Committee — When articles are generated or received by the select board, copies of those articles shall be forwarded forthwith to an appropriate standing committee for study and report. The study and report shall be considered at least once at a public hearing at which the public is provided with the opportunity to share their views concerning such matters. All warrants for town meetings shall include a notation of the standing committee to which each article has been assigned by the select board.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, however, all articles that would require the expenditure of town funds, and all other articles, shall, before enactment, be referred to the finance and warrant committee for its report and recommendation. The finance and warrant committee's recommendation shall be the main motion before the representative town meeting, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. All articles which relate to planning, zoning, subdivision control and any other matters relating to land use shall, before enactment, also be referred to the planning board, in its capacity as a standing committee, for study and report. When the adoption or amendment of a zoning by-law is before the representative town meeting, the planning board's recommendation shall be the main motion before the representative town meeting; provided, however, that prior to enactment the finance and warrant committee shall also provide its recommendation with respect to such adoption or amendment.
(d) 
Quorum — At every session of town meeting, the town clerk shall have attendance taken at the doors for the purpose of ascertaining the names and the number of town representatives present. All attendance records shall be posted upon the town bulletin boards and published in the annual town report.
One hundred and seventy town representatives shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of all business to come before the representative town meeting, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.
(e) 
Rules and Record of Proceedings — The representative town meeting shall determine its own rules and order of business unless otherwise provided by this charter or by by-law and shall provide for keeping a record of its proceedings. The town clerk shall certify such record to be true and accurate and such record shall be a public record readily accessible to the public. A certified copy shall be kept available in the library.
(f) 
Voting — Voting shall be by voice vote and the moderator shall declare the result of each vote taken. If 7 or more town representatives immediately stand to doubt the vote as announced, the moderator shall verify the voice vote by taking a standing vote. If 15 or more town representatives immediately stand to doubt the result of the standing vote, the moderator shall verify the standing vote by taking a roll call vote. At the moderator's discretion, the moderator may direct that any vote be taken by a call of the roll of the town representatives present. Notwithstanding this subsection, the representative town meeting may, by by-law, allow a different method for counting votes of town representatives present at a town meeting, such as by electronic means. The representative town meeting shall not for any reason declare itself in executive session or attempt to prohibit the public from attending any of its proceedings.
(g) 
Citizen Participation — Any voter or taxpayer of the town shall have a right to speak at town meetings subject to such rules as may from time to time be adopted by by-law or by a vote of the representative town meeting.
(h) 
District Organization — The town representatives from each district shall, within 17 days following each regular annual election, elect by written ballot, from among their own members, a chair, vice-chair and a clerk, to serve for a term of 1 year, and shall file a notice of such organization with the town clerk. Such organizational meeting shall take place on a date determined by the chair of the committee of district chairs, established under clause (iii) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c), in consultation with the town clerk, prior to making nomination papers available for the regular annual election. Notice of the date of the organizational meeting shall be posted on the town bulletin boards and the town clerk shall provide written notice of the date, time and place of the organizational meeting to all persons seeking election to the office of town representative who have complied with the requirements of subsection (b) of section 2-2. If the town clerk receives no notice of organization for a district within 17 days following a regular annual election, the town clerk shall immediately call a meeting of the town representatives from the districts that have failed to give such notice of organization.
[Amended by Ch. 121 of the Acts of 2020, approved 7-22-2020; Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
(a) 
Time of Taking Effect — Not sooner than 14 days after the proposed by-laws are approved by the representative town meeting, such by-laws shall be transmitted to the attorney general for review, as provided by section 32 of chapter 40 of the General Laws, and will become effective, if not denied by the attorney general, in accordance with that statute.
(b) 
Codes of Technical Regulations — The representative town meeting may adopt any standard code of technical regulations, in whole or in part, by reference to such regulations in an adopting by-law; provided, however, that 1 or more copies of the proposed code shall be available in the office of the town clerk and published as otherwise provided by law. The adopting by-law shall not be construed to include changes or revisions to such code subsequent to the representative town meeting vote to adopt the code.
Every town officer, or in the case of a multiple member body, a designated representative, or a representative of each department shall attend all sessions of the town meeting, unless deterred by illness or other reasonable cause, for the purpose of providing the representative town meeting with information pertinent to matters appearing in the warrant.
If any person described above is so deterred, he shall designate a deputy to attend in his place.
If a person required to attend a town meeting under this section is not a voter, that person shall, notwithstanding, be entitled to speak in order to provide the representative town meeting with information on pertinent warrant articles.
Elected officials of the town, as defined in section 3-1, and the chair of the finance and warrant committee, when attending a town meeting, shall have all of the rights and privileges of town representatives except the right to vote.
[Amended by Ch. 63 of the Acts of 2023, approved 11-8-2023]
No final vote of a representative town meeting approving a measure under any article in the warrant shall be operative for 14 days after the dissolution of the town meeting excepting the following votes, which shall take effect immediately upon dissolution of the meeting or otherwise as provided by law: a vote to adjourn; an authorization to borrow money in anticipation of taxes; an authorization to pay debts and obligations of the town; an appropriation of funds necessary to implement a written agreement executed under collective bargaining or the budget of the town as a whole; or a vote declared by preamble to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the peace, health, safety or convenience of the town and which is passed by a two-thirds vote of the town representatives present and voting at such meeting.
If within the said 14 days, a petition, signed by not less than 5 per cent of the voters of the town eligible to vote as of the date of the town meeting at which the final vote occurred, is filed in the office of the select board requesting that the question involved in that vote be submitted to the voters of the town at large, then the operation of that vote shall be further suspended pending a determination as hereinafter provided. Such petition shall contain the names and addresses of the voters who signed the petition as they appear on the list of voters. Within 14 days following the filing and including the time for certification by the board of registrars of a referendum petition, the select board shall call a special election which shall be held and forthwith and no sooner than 35 days after issuing the call; provided, however, that if a regular or special election is to be held not more than 60 days following the date the petition is filed, the select board may provide that the question or questions involved be presented to the voters at the same election.
All votes shall be taken by official ballots and the voter list shall be used in the same manner as in the election of town officers. The questions submitted shall be determined by a majority vote of the voters voting thereon, but no action of the representative town meeting shall be reversed unless at least 20 per cent of the voters eligible to vote in the election participate by voting in the election.
The question submitted shall be stated on the ballot in substantially the same language and form in which it was stated when presented by the moderator to the representative town meeting as appearing in the records of the town meeting and shall be similar to the following: "Shall the voters of the town confirm the action taken by the representative town meeting at the town meeting held on [insert date] to [insert here the question as stated when presented by the moderator]?" A brief summary of the measure drafted by town counsel shall appear below the question.
This election shall be held on a Saturday, unless it is to be held in conjunction with another election, and the polls shall open not later than 7:00 a.m. and shall not close earlier than 8:00 p.m.
If a petition conforming to the requirements of this section is not filed within 14 days of the dissolution of the town meeting, the vote shall then become effective.