[Adopted as Art. I of the General Bylaws]
[Amended 4-8-2008 ATM by Art. 21]
The Annual Town Election shall be held on the last Monday in March at such place and time as the Select Board may determine. Those elected at the Annual Town Election, with the exception of the Moderator, shall take office at the close of the Annual Town Meeting. The Moderator shall take office on the day after election, or as soon thereafter qualified for a term of three years.
[Amended 4-6-2010 ATM by Art. 6; 5-5-2025 ATM by Art. 25]
The Annual Business Meeting shall begin on the first Monday in May at such place as the Select Board shall determine. The Select Board, after a public hearing, may delay the start of the Annual Town Meeting for up to seven days, provided that it acts no later than the last day in February preceding. All sessions of the meeting shall begin at 7:00 p.m. and, unless otherwise voted by 2/3 of those present and voting, shall be adjourned to 7:00 p.m. of the next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, whichever comes first (legal holidays excluded), upon completion of the article under discussion at 10:30 p.m.; except that any such meeting shall be adjourned before that time if a quorum shall be declared to have been lost, or at 8:00 p.m. if a quorum has not been assembled by then.
[Added 5-4-2016 ATM by Art. 31; amended 5-7-2018 ATM by Art. 17]
A Town Meeting shall be held during the months of September, October or November at such date, time and place as the Select Board shall determine, unless the following applies. By the end of July, the Select Board shall discuss in public session, hold a public hearing and vote to determine whether a fall Town Meeting should occur. The public hearing shall be posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.[1] The Select Board shall also solicit input from the Town via email or mail for a period of one week before the public hearing.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 30A, §§ 18 through 25.
[Amended 5-4-2016 ATM by Art. 31]
The Select Board shall cause a Warrant Report to be printed and distributed to the citizens of the Town at least seven days prior to commencement of the Annual Town Meeting and 14 days prior to commencement of a Special Town Meeting. The Warrant Report will contain a copy of the articles as set forth in the official Warrant, a summary of the intent and scope of each article prepared by the submitter, the report and recommendations of the Finance Committee, reports by other Town officials, boards or committees having an interest in a specific article, and supporting data such as maps and charts. The individual or group submitting information shall meet requirements for timing, format and brevity established by the Select Board.
[Amended 5-4-2016 ATM by Art. 31]
Notice of every Town Meeting shall be given by posting a printed attested copy of the Warrant therefor at the Town Hall at least seven days before the Annual Town Meeting and at least 14 days before any Special Town Meeting.