[ATM Art. 19, 5-3-2022]
The legislative powers of the Town shall be exercised by a town meeting open to all voters.
[ATM Art. 29 5-4-2010, 2010; ATE 4-26-2011, 2011]
The moderator, elected as provided in section 3-4, shall preside at all sessions of the town meeting. In the event of the temporary absence or disability of the moderator, a temporary moderator may be elected by law.
The moderator, at town meetings, shall regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, make public declaration of all votes and may exercise such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by general law, by this charter, by by-law or by other vote of the town meeting.
[ATM Art. 19, 5-3-2022]
(a) 
In General - Subject to the provisions of this charter and such by-laws or other town meeting votes regarding committees as may be provided, the moderator shall appoint for fixed terms the members of such committees of the town meeting, special or standing, as may from time to time be established. In addition to such specific powers, duties and responsibilities as may be provided to a town meeting committee by the by-law or vote establishing it, each such committee when acting within the scope of its authority shall have a right, subject to any other by-law affecting such access generally, to examine the pertinent records of any town agency and to consult with, at reasonable times, any town officer, employee or agent.
(b) 
Finance Committee - There shall be a finance committee the members of which shall be appointed by the moderator. The number of members, the term of office and any other conditions of appointment or service as may be deemed necessary or desirable shall be established by by-law. All proposals to be submitted to a town meeting by warrant articles shall be referred to the finance committee by the board of selectmen at the earliest practicable time following their receipt by the board of selectmen. The finance committee shall report the action it recommends be taken on the articles contained in a town meeting warrant, in writing, together with a brief statement of the reasons for each such recommendation. Provisions for the format and distribution of such report shall be made by by-law. The finance committee shall have such additional powers and duties as may be provided by general law or by by-law.
Special town meetings may be held at the call of the board of selectmen at such times as they deem necessary, or desirable, in order to transact the legislative business of the town in an orderly manner. Special town meetings may also be held on the petition of two hundred or more voters, in the manner provided by general law. The town clerk shall, upon request, make available to voters forms for the calling of a special town meeting.
Every town meeting shall be called by a warrant issued by the board of selectmen which shall state the time and place at which the meeting is to convene and, by separate articles, the subject matter to be acted upon. The publication of the warrant for every town meeting shall be in accordance with a town by-law governing such matters.
[ATM Art. 30 5-4-2010, 2010; ATE 4-26-2011, 2011]
(a) 
Initiation - The board of selectmen shall receive at any time petitions addressed to it which request the submission of any matter to the town meeting and which are filed by: (1) any elected town officer, (2) any multiple member body acting by a majority of its members, (3) any ten voters for a regular town meeting and any one hundred voters for a special town meeting.
(b) 
Referral - Forthwith following receipt of any petition containing a proposed warrant article, the board of selectmen shall cause a copy of the proposal to be delivered in hand, or mailed, to the residence of the chairperson of the finance committee, a copy to be posted on the town bulletin board and shall cause such other distribution to be made of each such proposal as may be required by law or by by-law.
(c) 
Inclusion on Warrant - The board of selectmen shall include on the warrant, for a regular town meeting, the subject matter of all petitions which have been received by it 60 or more days prior to the date fixed by by-law for town meeting to convene. The board of selectmen shall not include in any such warrant the subject matter of any petition which has been received by it after said day nor shall any matter originating with the board be included after said date. The board of selectmen shall close the warrant for the annual town meeting no later than 28 days before the date of the annual town meeting.
Whenever a special town meeting is to be called, the board of selectmen shall give notice by publication in a local newspaper of such intention and shall notify all town agencies of its intention to do so. The board of selectmen shall include in the warrant, for such special town meeting, the subject matter of all petitions which are received at its office on or before the close of the fifth business day following such publication.
Every town officer, the chairperson of each multiple member body, the head of each department and the head of each division within the said departments shall attend all sessions of the town meeting at which warrant articles pertinent to their agency are or may be acted upon for the purpose of providing the town meeting with information pertinent to all such matters as appear in the warrant for the town meeting.
In the event any town officer, chairperson of a multiple member body, department or division head is to be absent due to illness or other reasonable cause, such person shall designate a deputy to attend to represent the office, multiple member body, department or division. If any person designated to attend the town meeting under this section is not a voter, such person shall, notwithstanding, have a right to address the meeting for the purpose of compliance with this section.
The town clerk shall serve as clerk of the town meeting, give public notice of all adjourned sessions of the town meeting, record its proceedings, and perform such additional duties in connection therewith as may be provided by general law, by this charter, by by-law or by other town meeting vote.
The town meeting may, by by-law, establish and from time to time amend, revise or repeal rules to govern the conduct of all town meetings.
[ATM Art. 19, 5-3-2022]
All powers of the Town, except as otherwise provided by law or this charter, shall be vested in the town meeting. The town meeting shall provide for the exercise of all of the powers of the Town and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the Town for which no other provision is made in this charter, or by by-law.