[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Blackstone as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 5.
[Adopted 4-7-1998; amended in its entirety 4-19-2022]
At the first meeting of the Board following the Annual Election, members shall choose a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk to serve until the next Annual Election or Special Election, in the event a vacancy is filled.
A. 
The Chairman will preside at all meetings of the Board, except in his/her absence when the Vice Chairman will preside. If neither the Chairman nor the Vice Chairman is present, then the Clerk shall preside.
B. 
The presiding officer will be responsible for the orderly conduct of the meeting as well as any other duties required under the Massachusetts General Laws, Charter, bylaws or by the authority given by the majority vote of the Board.
A. 
Call to order.
B. 
Roll call - attendance.
C. 
Acceptance of minutes of previous meeting(s).
D. 
Citizens forum: good and welfare - public.
E. 
Public hearings.
F. 
Correspondence.
G. 
Town announcements and events.
H. 
Liaison reports/boards and commissions.
I. 
Town Administrator's report.
J. 
Old business.
K. 
New business.
(1) 
Approval of Payroll Warrant no. and no.
(2) 
Approval of Vendor Warrant no.
(3) 
Matters that the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen did not reasonably anticipate discussing 48 hours prior to the meeting.
L. 
Future Board agenda items.
M. 
Good and welfare - Selectmen.
N. 
Adjournment.
A. 
Following recognition, the presiding officer may allow any resident(s) the right to comment or make statements concerning any of the above business items.
B. 
Nonresidents. A nonresident may be allowed to speak following a 4/5 vote of the Board of Selectmen.
Action
What to Say
Can Interrupt Speaker?
Need a Second?
Can Be Debated?
Can Be Amended?
Votes Needed
a)
Introduce main motion
I move to. . .
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Majority
b)
Table a motion
I move to table. . .
No
Yes
No
No
2 members
c)
Amend a motion
I move to amend the motion by. . .
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Majority
d)
Postpone item
I move to postpone the matter until. . .
No
Yes
Yes
No
Majority
e)
End debate
I move the question.
No
Yes
Yes
No
Majority
f)
Enforce the rules or object to procedure
Point of order
Yes
No
No
No
Chair's decision
g)
Recess the meeting
I move that we recess until. . .
No
Yes
No
No
Majority
h)
Adjourn the meeting
I move to adjourn the meeting.
No
Yes
No
No
Majority
i)
Request information
Point of information
Yes
No
No
No
No vote
j)
Overrule the Chair's ruling
I move to overrule the Chair's ruling.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Majority
k)
Consider something out of its scheduled order
I move to suspend the rules. . .
No
Yes
No
No
2/3 vote
l)
Enter into Executive Session
I move to go into executive session.
No
Yes
No
No
Majority
m)
Personal preference: noise, room temperature, distractions
Point of privilege
Yes
No
No
No
No vote
If the presiding officer or any member questions the legality of any motion, the motion must be tabled until an opinion, satisfactory to the majority of the Board, is obtained through Town Counsel or is researched through the Massachusetts General Laws, the Charter, or the bylaws.
In the event of unusual or unforeseen circumstances, the motion to suspend the rules may be made regarding the order of business only.
A. 
The Board reserves the right to limit to five minutes the time that anyone appearing before the Board shall have to speak, unless this article is waived by a simple majority vote of this Board. Anyone wishing to speak over the five-minute time limit must request to be placed on the agenda at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
B. 
Nonresidents may speak two minutes upon a 4/5 vote of the Board allowing them to speak. A 4/5 vote of the Board will also be required to extend the two-minute time limit to five minutes.
C. 
Town officials who wish to speak on Town-related business will not have § 151-9 apply to them.