§ 41-1. Appointed date and time.
§ 41-2. Election date.
§ 41-3. Polling hours.
§ 41-4. Authority to set closing date on warrants.
§ 41-5. Publication and posting of warrants.
§ 41-6. Quorum requirements.
§ 41-7. Addressing of Town Meetings restricted.
§ 41-8. Manner of voting on financial issues.
§ 41-9. Vote on secret ballot.
§ 41-10. Motions and amendments to be in writing.
§ 41-11. Responsibilities of elected boards and appointed committees.
§ 41-12. Appointment of committees.
§ 41-13. Committees to furnish report for annual town report.
§ 41-14. Motions for reconsideration.
§ 41-15. Manner of taking votes requiring two-thirds majority
[HISTORY: Adopted as Ch. ll of the 1974 bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Boards and commissions – See Ch. 4
Committees – See Ch. 7
Manager – See Ch. 29
Selectmen – See Ch. 37
§ 41-1. Appointed date and time. [Amended 10-4-1993 STM, Art 17]
The Annual Town Meeting for the transaction of all business except the election of such officers and the determination of such matters as are required to be elected shall be held on a date, time and place to be determined by the Board of Selectmen. The Board shall make such designation not later than March 1 of each year, and the designated date shall be set so as to allow completion of all business not later than June 30 of the same year.
§ 41-2. Election date. [Amended 5-3-2000 ATM Art.13]
The Annual Town Meeting for the election of such officers and the determination of such matters as are required by law to be elected or determined by ballot shall be held on a date in the Month of May to be determined by the Board of Selectmen. The board shall make such determination not later that March 1 of each year.
§ 41-3. Polling hours.
The polls shall be open during hours prescribed by the Board of Selectmen and in compliance with applicable provisions of the General Laws.
§ 41-4. Authority to set closing date on warrants.
The selectmen shall have the authority to set a closing date for insertion of articles in the warrant of any Annual or Special Town Meeting.
§ 41-5. Publication and posting of warrants. [Amended 10-18-1999 STM Art.1]
All warrants for Town meetings shall be served by posting attested copies thereof in at least four (4) public places in the Town, including two (2) in precinct B in the village of Housatonic. Said postings shall be at least seven (7) days before the time of holding an Annual Town meeting and at least fourteen (14) days before the time of holding a Special Town Meeting.
§ 41-6. Quorum Requirements.
The number of voters necessary to constitute a quorum at any Special or Annual Town Meeting shall be fifty (50), and no action shall be taken to raise and appropriate money at any Town Meeting unless there are present fifty (50) or more legal voters of the town; provided, however, that a number less than a quorum may from time to time adjourn the same. This section shall not apply to parts of meetings devoted to the selection of town officers or to a question or questions being voted upon by written ballot and necessitating the use of the polling place in all precincts with the polling hours prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
§ 41-7. Addressing of Town Meetings restricted.
No person, unless a registered voter of the town, may address a Town meeting without special permission of the Moderator.
§ 41-8. Manner of voting on financial issues.
Any vote or any motion to raise and appropriate or appropriate money by issuing bonds or notes of the town, excepting notes in anticipation of revenue for a current year, and any vote on any motion or proposal concerning an increase in the limit of indebtedness of the town or an appropriation in excess thereof, shall be voted upon by written, secret ballot.
§ 41-9. Vote on Secret Ballot.
Before any vote on any motion to raise and appropriate or to raise or appropriate any sum of money in excess of the appropriation recommended by the Finance Committee for the current year, or on any motion seeking to raise and appropriate or raise or appropriate funds to be expended for a purpose not heretofore customarily made, the Moderator shall ask for a showing of hands by those who desire a written, secret ballot. If as many as twenty (20) persons so indicate, the vote shall be by secret written ballot.
§ 41-10. Motions and amendments to be in writing.
Motions and amendments shall be in writing at the meeting.
§ 41-11. Responsibilities of elected boards and appointed committees.
All elected boards and appointed committees shall, within ten (10) days after taking office, elect a Chairman and Secretary and give notice in writing of such election to the Town Clerk. They shall cause the Secretary to keep accurate records and minutes of all meetings.
§ 41-12. Appointment of committees.
The Moderator shall appoint all committees authorized by Town meeting within twenty-one (21) days of said meeting. Said committees shall, within ten (10) days of such appointment, elect a Chairman and Secretary and give notice in writing of such election to the Town Clerk.
§ 41-13. Committees to furnish report for annual town report.
All committees, whether appointed or elected, shall make a report to the Board of Selectmen for inclusion in the annual town report, in addition to any other reports that may be required.
§ 41-14. Motions for reconsideration. [Added 6-1-1992 ATM, Art. 2]
[Amended 5-15-2006 ATM, Art 21]
Motions for reconsideration may be permitted only if made within fifteen (15) minutes of the announcement of the result of the particular vote taken, and only one motion for reconsideration shall be allowed for any Article before the Town Meeting. If the original vote was done by secret ballot the reconsideration vote shall also be by secret ballot. The moderator shall announce a motion for reconsideration upon receipt of such a motion.
§ 41-15. Manner of Taking Votes Requiring Two-Thirds Majority.
[ Added 5-8-1998 ATM, Art. 1]
The Moderator is authorized to take all votes requiring a two-thirds majority in the same manner in which he conducts the taking of a vote when a majority vote is required.
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