[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Longmeadow as Art. 3, Ch. 200, of the General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The annual election of Town officers is held after the annual meeting, the exact date to be determined by February 1 of each year by the Select Board.
[Amended 11-5-2019 STM by Art. 20, approved 2-27-2020]
The polls shall be open from 7:00 o'clock in the morning until 8:00 o'clock in the evening. The hour of opening may be earlier if ordered by the Select Board. For elections in which state officers are to be elected, the Select Board shall order the polls to be open such additional time as shall be necessary to meet the requirements of MGL c. 54, § 64.
The officers of the Town that are elected at the annual election are as follows:
A. 
Moderator, elected for three years.
B. 
Five Select Persons, elected for three years (except for those members elected at the Special Town Election of October 5, 2004, as provided in the Charter).
C. 
Seven members of the School Committee to be elected for three years, three to be elected in one year and two to be elected in each of the next two years.
D. 
Five members of the Planning Board, to be elected for five years, one to be elected each year.
E. 
Four members of the Housing Authority, who shall be voters of the Town. Four members shall be elected for terms of five years, so arranged that as nearly as possible one term shall expire each year, and a fifth member shall be appointed by the commonwealth as provided by law.
The term of office of a Town officer who is elected by the voters begins the day following the Town election. An elected Town officer shall be entitled to exercise the privileges and duties of office only after being duly sworn.
A Town office that is filled by election is voted upon at the election in May next preceding the expiration of the term of the incumbent.
If a vacancy occurs in an office that is filled by election, the vacancy is filled pursuant to the provisions of the General Laws of Massachusetts and these bylaws to the extent these bylaws are not inconsistent with MGL.
The Town will hold periodic open meetings/forums to promote dialogue among voters, Town officials and Town department heads on an ongoing basis so that the voters can participate and make informed decisions.