[Amended 5-12-1981 ATM by Art. 5, approved 5-17-1982; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
2-2-1
The legislative powers of the town shall be exercised by a town meeting open to all registered voters of the Town.
2-2-2
The quorum necessary for the conduct of business may be established through by-law, but may not be less than 100 registered voters of the Town.
2-2-3
When the number of voters in attendance at town meeting is determined to be less than the established quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned forthwith to a stated date, time and place or, at the option of town meeting, dissolved.
[Amended 5-8-1984 ATM by Art. 50, approved 5-20-1985; 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
2-3-1
The Town Meeting shall consider and act upon all proposed By-laws.
2-3-2
Where required by applicable law, the town meeting shall consider and act upon, with or without amendments, all proposed operating and capital budgets, bond issues and other financial proposals of the town.
2-3-3
All Town officers, or their representatives, members of boards and commissions, and department heads including non-residents shall attend any Town Meeting and be permitted to speak on articles or issues that affect their department, office, or function. The absence of any such person shall not invalidate the actions of the Town Meeting.
2-3-4
The Town Meeting shall possess and exercise all powers generally conferred upon town meetings under General Law.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
2-4-1
The Town Meeting shall meet regularly on the second Tuesday in May to consider and adopt an annual operating and capital budget, and to act on other financial matters, to consider and act on matters of planning, zoning, subdivision control, building codes, and all other matters of a By-law nature, as well as to consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
2-4-2
n all procedural matters, the town meeting shall follow the latest edition of the handbook of parliamentary law published by Massachusetts Moderators Association, Inc., except as provided by the General Laws, this charter or by by-law.
2-4-3
The Warrant for each Town Meeting shall be prepared by the select board.
2-4-4
All warrants for Town Meeting shall be served by posting up attested copies thereof, in at least three public places in the Town and at such places as the select board members may designate, at least seven days before the time of holding such meeting.
2-4-5
A copy of the warrant for any town meeting shall be mailed to each residence in the town not less than 7 days prior to the commencement of said meeting.
2-4-6
The order of consideration of the articles on the warrant may be changed at the discretion of the town moderator.
2-4-7
All proposed operating expenditures shall be included in a single, omnibus-type article in the Town Warrant.
2-4-8
The town meeting shall receive recommendations from the finance committee on all town meeting articles concerning financial matters; provided, however, that failure to submit a recommendation shall not preclude town meeting action.
2-4-9
The town meeting shall receive recommendations from the planning board on all articles involving planning, zoning, subdivision control, land acquisition, conservation, extension of sewer lines and all other matters relating to land and the environment; provided, however, that a failure to submit a recommendation shall not preclude town meeting action.
2-4-10
The substance of any article defeated at town meeting shall not be placed on the warrant for the period of 1 year immediately following such defeat.
2-4-11
The substance of any article entailing zoning which has been defeated at any town meeting shall not be voted on by the town meeting for a period of 2 years immediately following such defeat, unless the planning board recommends resubmission of the substance of such article.
2-4-12
The date, time, and place for any emergency Town Meeting shall be established by the select board, but, the calling of such shall be in accordance with the General Law provisions for calling a Special Town Meeting.
2-4-13
Any ten voters of the Town may secure by written petition to the select board, the inclusion of an article for the warrant of any duly scheduled Annual Town Meeting, and at least one hundred registered voters may secure the same for any duly scheduled Special Town Meeting.
[Amended by Ch. 31 of the Acts of 2018; 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024]
2-5-1
A Moderator shall be elected for a 3-year term at the regular election of Town officials. The Moderator shall not hold any other office or accept Town employment during the term for which the Moderator is elected.
2-5-2
The Moderator shall preside at all Town Meetings and shall swear in the Town Clerk. The moderator shall enforce procedural rules as set forth in General Law, this Charter, and By-law.
2-5-3
The Moderator shall appoint the Finance Committee in accordance with Chapter 7, Section 3 of this Charter.
2-5-4
The Moderator shall appoint any ad hoc committee created by the Town Meeting, unless another appointive authority shall be specified in the language of the article establishing such committee.