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