[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-12-2014 ATM, Art. 10; 6-6-2016 STM, Art. 15; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
Notice of every Town Meeting shall be given by publishing notice
of the warrant in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town
at least seven days preceding the meeting in the case of Annual Town
Meeting and at least 14 days preceding the meeting in the case of
Special Town Meetings, and posting attested copies of the complete
warrant in the Office of the Town Clerk, at the Town Library, and
on the Town web site in a legible fashion. [Reference: Charter Section
2-5]
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
All miscellaneous articles or articles from the general public
for the inclusion in the spring or fall Annual Town Meeting warrant
shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen during the period the
warrant is open. The warrant shall not close more than 45 days in
advance of the Town Meeting.
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
The Board of Selectmen shall have the right to publish different
closing dates for the warrant articles which are closer to the period/dates
specified for acceptance of articles prior to any Town Meeting by
the Charter. However, in no case shall an article be accepted after
the final publication or posting of any warrant. Provisions of General
Laws shall prevail should any conflict arise.
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
The Spring Annual Town Meeting for the transaction of business
shall be held on the second Monday of May at 7:00 p.m. in the Bartlett
High School or any other adequate place to be designated by the Board
of Selectmen in the Warrant announcing the meeting.
The Fall Annual Town Meeting for the transaction
of business shall be held on the Third Monday of October at 7:00 p.m.
in the Bartlett High School or any other adequate place to be designated
by the Board of Selectmen in the Warrant announcing the meeting.
The presence of 61 voters at a Town Meeting
for the transaction of business shall constitute a quorum, except
for a motion to adjourn for which no quorum shall be required; provided,
however, that no lack of the required quorum unless it appears from
the records of the Town Clerk of the meeting that before the result
of such vote the question of the presence of a quorum was duly raised
and that such records show that the required quorum was lacking.
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
In all protocol matters, Town Meeting shall be conducted in
accordance with the latest revised edition of "TOWN MEETING TIME"
except as otherwise provided by General Laws, the Charter, this bylaw
or procedural rules enacted by the Town Moderator. [Reference: Charter
Section 2-8 (f)]
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
A. The Moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings at all Town
Meetings, decide all questions of order and make public declaration
of all votes.
B. Any vote taken at Town Meeting may be taken electronically at the
discretion of the Town Moderator. Any electronic devices or systems
so used must have been previously approved for use by the Moderator.
All motions submitted for consideration of the
Town shall be in writing if required by the presiding officer or by
a majority of the Town Meeting members present. Every person speaking
shall address the Moderator in a standing position.
[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 215-13-2019 ATM
by Art. 23]
A. A final vote of the Town Meeting may be reconsidered under the following
circumstances.
B. Any Town Meeting Member desiring reconsideration of a vote taken
under an Article, at a Town Meeting session that has not adjourned
must make a motion within 15 minutes of the final vote which is the
subject or reconsideration. The motion must be accompanied by a statement
outlining the reasons for requesting reconsideration, which shall
be limited to the following:
(1) New information not available to the Town Meeting at the time the
Article was considered; or
(2) Substantial evidence that Town Meeting Members were confused as to
the basis or nature of the action that they took.
(3) Said motion for Reconsideration shall require a 2/3 majority vote
to suspend the rules.
[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
Articles appearing on the Warrant of any Town Meeting that voters
have rejected or passed over may not be resubmitted prior to the next
Annual Town Meeting unless the Selectmen have declared the Article
to be of an emergency nature or unless by petition of voters in accordance
with MGL c. 39, § 10, as amended, or unless passed over
for additional information. Articles tabled during the Town Meeting
may be resubmitted for the next or any annual or special Town Meeting.
The vote of the people of Webster under the
referendum procedures (Section 2-15) of the Charter shall be considered
as action taken by the Town Meeting.