The annual election shall be held on the first
Tuesday of April.
[Added 10-19-2023 ATM by Art. 22]
The Town Constable shall notify and warn the inhabitants of
the Town of Chelmsford by posted attested copies of Town Meeting warrants
at each of the Town’s designated polling locations, police station,
fire stations, libraries, and Town offices.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
Dates and times proposed for continuance of
the Town Meeting shall be announced when the warrant is posted.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
No warrant article may be introduced for consideration
after 11:00 p.m. without a majority vote of Town Meeting representatives
present and voting to allow such consideration.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
Distribution of material and lobbying on warrant
articles or issues not related to warrant articles being considered
at that Town Meeting will be prohibited within an area of 100 feet
outside the entrance to the building housing the meeting. An area
will be established inside the building but outside the meeting place
where one individual from each group supporting or opposing an issue
may distribute material or discuss the issue. Handout material should
be dated and signed by the organization or individuals preparing the
material.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2; amended 5-1-1997 ATM by Art. 28; 4-25-2011 ATM by Art. 16]
A. Voting process. Voice votes shall not be used. The Moderator shall take all votes by a raising of hands or use of an electronic tally and display system, except as may otherwise be voted by Town Meeting under §
154-16.
B. Electronic
tally and display system. Votes taken by an electronic tally and display
system shall be visible to the Town Meeting members and any members
of the public present at the meeting. The display shall show each
Town Meeting member’s name; precinct; "yes," "no" or "abstain"
vote; and a tally of all votes.
C. Matters
requiring a two-thirds vote by statute. In matters requiring a two-thirds
vote by statute, the Moderator may declare the vote based upon the
raising of hands. If seven or more members of Town Meeting question
the vote, the Moderator shall count the vote. If an electronic tally
and display system is used, the tally shall constitute a counted vote;
if such a vote is questioned by seven or more members of Town Meeting,
the Moderator shall manually tally the electronically recorded votes.
D. Record
of votes taken by electronic tally. The Town Clerk shall make available
in the Town Clerk’s office and on the Town’s website within
a reasonable time after a session in which a vote(s) was taken by
the use of an electronic tally and display system a list, organized
by precinct, which shall disclose how each Town Meeting member voted.
E. Regulations.
After a public hearing, the Moderator, in consultation with the Select
Board and Town Clerk, shall be authorized to adopt regulations for
the purpose of facilitating implementation of this bylaw and ensuring
the security and integrity of the voting process.
[Amended 6-17-2021 ATM by Art. 29]
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
A. When Town property or assets are to be purchased or
sold, the name of the purchaser or seller, if known, must be disclosed
by the sponsor.
B. The sponsor of any warrant article shall speak initially
to explain the article.
C. Zoning bylaw presentations by the sponsor must show
a map denoting the existing zoning and the proposed changed zoning,
including definitions of zones and explanations of changes.
D. All sponsors of bylaw changes must show the language
of the existing bylaw and the language of the change and an explanation
of the change in the presentation.
E. All recurring operating budget articles regularly
presented at the Spring Annual Town Meeting to defray Town expenses
for the upcoming fiscal year must be presented showing the following:
dollars budgeted and expended for the last two years and for the current
year, proposed budget dollars and the revenue generated by the department
requesting the budget.
F. Visual aids used in any presentation must be large
enough to be viewed from the back of the hall or handouts shall be
distributed.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2; 6-17-2021 ATM by Art. 29]
The Select Board and Finance Committee shall
have an opportunity to state their position on each article and are
encouraged to state their reasons for their position. The Finance
Committee is not required to speak on a nonfinancial article.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
The Moderator may distribute additional rules
of debate or decorum not controverting any bylaw or statute to help
guide debate of issues before the Town Meeting.
[Added 10-21-1991 ATM by Art. 2]
A main motion on any article shall be voted
upon by roll call ballot if 40 Town Meeting representatives so vote
at the end of debate of that main motion and before a motion under
the next article.
[Added 4-28-2003 ATM by Art. 1]
Each session of Town Meeting shall begin with
the recitation of the United States Pledge of Allegiance.