[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Norwell.
Formerly designated Art. IV. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A copy of the warrant for all Town Meetings shall be posted
in five or more places in the Town at least seven days prior to the
Annual Town Meeting or 14 days prior to a Special Town Meeting, and
a notice under the Seal of the Town shall be published in a newspaper
circulated in the Town at least seven days prior to an Annual Town
Meeting and 14 days prior to a Special Town Meeting, but it shall
be sufficient notice if the newspaper states only that a meeting is
to be held giving the place, date and hour.
[Amended 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
The Select Board shall prepare a report setting forth the articles
of the warrant, together with the recommendations of the Advisory
Board, copies of which either shall be mailed to all registered voters,
or they shall cause to have a copy left at each dwelling house or
apartment, at least seven days before the meeting.
[5-14-2001 ATM, Art.
8; 5-8-2021 ATM
by Art. 11]
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held at 7:30 p.m. on the second
Monday in May, or as deemed necessary by the Select Board, of each
year, and Special Town Meetings may be held at such time as the Select
Board may order. At least seven days before the Annual Town Meeting,
a published complete Annual Report of all Town officers, boards, committees,
departments, Town Meetings, elections, births, deaths and marriages
shall be made available to all residents and citizens of the Town
at the following locations: Town Clerk's office, Town Library, Norwell
Housing Authority Common Room and such other places designated by
the Select Board.
[5-12-1992 ATM]
No quorum shall be required for a Town Meeting.
All Town Meeting votes, except those containing authorization
for a borrowing in excess of $200,000 and requiring more than a majority
vote, or otherwise provided for by law, shall first be taken by a
voice vote. If the Moderator is in doubt, or if seven voters immediately
question the vote, the Moderator shall call for a standing vote taken
by sworn tellers. In the case of a motion authorizing a borrowing
in excess of $200,000 and requiring more than a majority vote, a secret
ballot shall be used in all instances.
Articles of the warrant shall be acted upon in the order in
which they appear unless otherwise determined by vote of the Meeting.
A motion and all amendments thereto shall, if required by the
Moderator, be reduced to writing before being submitted to the Meeting.
The duties of the Moderator and the government of the Town Meeting,
not provided for by law or bylaws, shall be determined by the rules
of practice contained in Robert's Rules of Order as far as they are
adapted to the conditions and powers of the Town of Norwell.
[Amended 5-25-1995 ATM; 5-13-2002 ATM; 5-6-2013 ATM; 5-8-2021 ATM by Art. 11]
A meeting shall be held on the second Saturday following the
Annual Town Meeting and shall be conducted as prescribed by law, with
polling hours set by the Select Board before each Annual Town Election
and/or Special Town Election, for the determination of such matters
as shall properly be placed on the official ballot and for the election
of Town officers, in accordance with and as required by law and these
bylaws, as follows:
[1-21-1999 STM]
On matters requiring a two-thirds vote by statute a count need
not be taken unless the vote so declared is immediately challenged
by seven or more voters as provided in MGL c. 39, § 15.
