2-1-1.
The legislative powers of the Town shall be exercised by a Town Meeting
open to all registered voters of the Town.
2-1-2.
The Town Meeting shall consider and act upon, with or without amendments,
all bylaws, proposed operating and capital improvement budgets, bond
issues, and other financial proposals of the Town.
2-1-3.
The Town Meeting shall possess and may exercise all powers possible
under general law.
2-2-1.
The Select Board shall prepare the warrant for all Town meetings.
[Amended by Chapter 292 of
the Acts of 2020, approved 1-8-2021]
2-2-2.
The warrant for the Annual Town Meeting shall be closed not more
than 75 days, but at least 40 days, before the date for the meeting,
but by unanimous vote, the Select Board may reopen the warrant in
case of emergency. The warrant for a Special Town Meeting shall be
closed not more than 40 but at least 20 days before the date of the
meeting.
[Amended by Chapter 447 of the Acts of 2004, approved 12-30-2004; Chapter 292 of the Acts of 2020,
approved 1-8-2021]
2-2-3.
The warrant for each Annual and Special Town Meeting shall be posted
on the Town website, at Town Hall, at the public library, at the senior
center and at the police station in the Town at least seven days prior
to the Annual Town Meeting and at least 14 days prior to any Special
Town Meeting.
[Amended 12-15-2022 by Ch. 316, Acts of 2022, approved 12-22-2022]
2-2-4.
The warrant for each Special Town Meeting shall have a summary prepared
by the Town Clerk, published in a newspaper of general circulation
at least seven days before the meeting. The publication shall include
the location where copies of the full warrant text can be obtained
or viewed, or where mailed requests for copies may be sent.
[Amended by Chapter 446 of the Acts of 2004, approved 12-30-2004]
2-3-1.
The Town Meeting shall meet as specified in the Town by-laws and
in accordance with Section 9 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws to
consider and adopt an annual operating and capital budget, and to
act on other matters. The meeting shall be continued on other days
until all articles in the warrant have been acted upon.
[Amended by Chapter 411 of the Acts of 2012, approved 1-4-2013]
[Amended by Chapter 292 of
the Acts of 2020, approved 1-8-2021]
2-4-1.
A Special Town Meeting may be called by the Select Board and shall
be called by said Board upon the request, in writing, of at least
200 registered voters of the Town.
2-5-1.
A Moderator, elected in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
6, shall preside at all sessions of the Town Meeting.
2-6-1.
Rules of parliamentary procedure in simplified form shall be prepared
by the Moderator and shall annually be included in the Finance Committee
report.
2-6-2.
The Town Clerk shall make copies of the simplified rules available
for distribution to those requesting them, and to those in attendance
at all sessions of the Town Meeting.
[Amended by Chapter 464 of the Acts of 2010, approved 1-14-2011]
2-7-1.
All ad hoc committees established by the Town Meeting shall be appointed
by the Moderator, unless the motion establishing any such committee
shall name the members, provide for their election, or provide for
a different appointive authority.
2-8-1.
All proposed operating expenditures shall be included in a single,
omnibus-type article in the Town Meeting warrant. In addition, all
regular proposed capital improvements expenditures shall also be included
in an omnibus-type article, devoted to capital expenditures.
2-8-2.
Articles involving an expenditure of Town funds shall not be voted
on by the Town Meeting unless the Finance Committee shall have considered
them previously and issued a written recommendation thereon. The Chairman
of the Board, or a designated representative, shall be present at
the meeting to provide verbal explanations of the Board's recommendations.
2-8-3.
No article calling for the appropriation of funds shall be considered
at a Special Town Meeting unless the proposed expenditure has been
recommended by the Select Board and the Finance Committee, acting
separately at separate meetings.
[Amended by Chapter 292 of
the Acts of 2020, approved 1-8-2021]
2-9-1.
Articles involving planning, zoning, subdivision control, land acquisition,
conservation, extension of sewer or water lines, the acceptance of
streets and ways, and all other similar matters relating to the environment
shall not be voted on by the Town unless the Planning Board shall
have considered them previously and issued recommendations thereon.
The Chairman of the Planning Board, or a designated representative,
shall be present at the meeting to provide verbal explanations of
the Board's recommendations.
