[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Southampton as Art. I of the General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 3-22-2025 STM by Art. 4]
The Annual Meeting of the Town shall be held on the first Saturday in May, commencing at 10:00 a.m. in the morning, and if not completed in a reasonable time, prescribed by the Moderator, shall continue on successive evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m. until its conclusion, excluding Sundays and holidays. The Annual Election of Town officers shall be held on the third Tuesday in May of each year.
Warrants for all Town Meetings shall be posted in six places in the Town (including the Town's website) at least seven days in advance of the scheduled Annual Town Meeting and at least 14 days in advance of a Special Town Meeting.
After a motion is made orally in Town Meeting, it will be presented in writing, when required by the Moderator, with copies provided to the Town Clerk and the Town Moderator.
If the Moderator, or the Meeting by majority vote, so orders, a vote on any question at a Town Meeting shall be conducted by paper ballot.
[Amended 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 31]
For any Town Meeting article requiring bonding, the Moderator shall require a paper ballot vote.
Articles in the warrant shall be acted upon in the order of their arrangement unless the Meeting, by majority vote, revises the order in which the articles will be considered.
At all Town Meetings, 50 registered voters shall be necessary to constitute a quorum to conduct business, provided that a number less than a quorum may from time to time adjourn the Meeting.
The warrant for an Annual or Special Town Meeting may specify that the Meeting is to be held in an accessible auditorium or other facility in any of the surrounding municipalities, and the Town Meeting may also, by majority vote, adjourn to such a facility if it deems appropriate.
A. 
All speakers at Town Meeting shall be recognized by and address the Moderator, and shall face and speak directly to the voters in attendance in the meeting hall.
B. 
All public officials located at tables in the front of the hall shall face toward the voters and shall also stand and be recognized by and first address the Moderator, and shall then also face and speak directly to the voters.
C. 
Speakers shall not address specific individuals within the hall nor engage in any rude behavior toward any individuals.
The formal rules of evidence, including those relating to hearsay evidence, that apply at formal proceedings such as court trials shall not be applied to Town Meetings, inasmuch as their complexity makes it difficult, if not impossible, to apply consistently. Accordingly, duly recognized speakers, whose statements comport with requirements for decorum, shall not be prevented from speaking by the Moderator when the speakers are acting in good faith, with the reasonable belief their statements are true and that their statements are material and pertinent to matters legitimately before the Town Meeting.
Candidates running for Town offices secure a place on the ballot either by timely submitting valid nomination papers with a sufficient number of signatures of registered voters or being so voted at the Town caucus. A nonpartisan Town caucus shall be held at least 38 days prior to the Annual Town Election, as described in MGL c. 53, § 121.