Town Meeting

Town Meeting is the legislative branch of Merrimac’s government, passing bylaws and policies, authorizing town and school expenditures, and exercising other legislative powers held by the Town. Town Meeting’s role in the town is like that of the U.S. Congress in our country, and the State Legislature in our state. However, unlike Congress and the State Legislature, where elected representatives speak and act on behalf of voters, Town Meeting allows all registered voters to speak and vote directly on matters that affect their lives and livelihoods. The Moderator welcomes suggestions for clarifications or additional topics for future revisions. Send to: moderator@townofmerrimac.com.

The Massachusetts State Constitution makes cities and towns the two units of local government. The Town is the basic unit and Town Meeting is the method provided by the Constitution and The Great and General Court of Massachusetts (the state Legislature) for the governance of towns. Merrimac follows the Open Town Meeting form of government, under which every registered voter may attend, speak, offer amendments, and vote. Under state law, attendance must be in person; no absentee voting is permitted. State law also requires the Town to hold at an Annual Town Meeting each year in the spring with the principal purpose to appropriate money to fund Town expenses for the fiscal year which starts the following July 1st. Money can be provided by appropriation directly against the municipal tax rate levied on real and personal property, transferred from existing funds held by the Town, or borrowed within limits set by the State. The Warrant is the notice to voters of what matters will be considered and acted on at Town Meeting. The Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting calls for action on town expenditures and other subjects. Some Articles in the Warrant are general, while others are detailed and specific. Citizens may add articles to the Warrant during the period in which the Select Board publicly declares the Warrant to be “open.” These are known as “Citizen Petition Articles.” The Warrant is posted on the Town Meeting page of the town website (www.townofmerrimac.com) and in at least three (3) public places in town no less than seven (7) days before the Meeting. In the Warrant, the Select Board calls the Meeting to convene at a specified time and place. Annual Town Meeting is held on the last Monday of April at 7:30pm. If the Meeting does not complete its business in its first session, it will adjourn to a later session, either the second or third Monday of May.

The Meeting is conducted by the Moderator, who is elected each year in the town election. The Moderator regulates the proceedings, decides questions of order, and declares all votes (See Mass. Gen. Laws c. 39, § 15.

Welcome to the Merrimac Annual Town Meeting. We gather as the legislative body of our town, acting directly to decide matters that affect our community. Through this process, every registered voter has the right to be heard and to vote. We will abide by our town bylaws and the warrant, engaging in constructive debate to ensure our decisions bring prosperity and stability to our town.

In our current practice of local participatory democracy, we maintain and renew a tradition of self-governance practiced in Merrimac for 150 years – Town Meeting. By gathering together, we embrace the legacy of the Town Meetings of 150 years ago. They were the local democracies that, by their nature, taught Americans the virtues and responsibilities of self-government. It was through the conduct of Town Meetings that the
Colonial American public embraced the inalienable right of self-determination – independent of the British Empire’s control – which, in turn, sparked a revolt and fueled a Revolution. The voices then raised, actions taken, financial support committed, and lives and liberties pledged at many Town Meetings in the Commonwealth remain our worthy heritage.

Our community was established in 1876 with the premise of self-governance at its foundation. Town Meeting remains, to this day, the preeminent example of direct participatory democracy. It is a truism that citizenship requires active participation. I invite you to demonstrate the right to raise your voices in a celebration that harkens the American Revolutionary spirit by attending our Annual Town Meeting, to be held on Monday, April 27th at 7:30PM at the Sweetsir School, 104 Church Street, Merrimac.

It is my responsibility to conduct our Town Meeting in a manner that affords the opportunity for fair and equitable participation by every citizen wishing to attend. Ensuring the credibility of our legislative gathering is paramount. Primary among them is assuring a respectful forum in which those attending utilize the information provided, listen to the debate offered, and make the most informed judgment possible. Rules to maintain this vital civic discourse are published below this message.

It is our collective obligation to assure this 17th Century tradition of gathering as a community continues unimpeded. For generations we have come together as neighbors – in good faith – for the benefit of all. Let us each endeavor to leave cynicism and bad faith behind and appreciate the importance of
participating in this historic assembly that sparked the American Revolution.

I ask you to join me in the mutual obligation to experience a fair, open, and efficient Town Meeting. Your participation in our deliberative democracy ensures this enduring legacy.

The purpose of Town Meeting is to establish and update the By-laws, operational policies, budgets and land use rules that govern our Town. Merrimac’s Open Town Meeting has been in force as our form of government since the town was established in 1876. It represents the purest form of democracy in that every vote truly counts. Each registered voter is guaranteed an equal voice in the decisions made by the Meeting. To protect the sanctity of that vote, the Merrimac Town Bylaws empowers the Town Moderator to establish the Rules of Procedure under which Town Meeting is to be conducted. These rules are historically based on the traditions established by generations of Merrimac citizens and by other New England communities, acting as legislators of their local governments.

Specific parliamentary rulings and conduct are governed by the Moderator, using Massachusetts General Law, Merrimac By-Laws, Town Meeting Time and local tradition as guidelines. The passing of each Town Meeting adds to the rich history – and changes – to that practice and tradition that helps guide future Moderators and meetings.

Town Meetings across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are similar – but not identical – in the way they are conducted. Local traditions can significantly affect a town’s proceedings and help define the role and latitude of the Moderator. At Merrimac Town Meetings we will endeavor to present all necessary information in an efficient and timely manner so that the most clarity can be afforded to voters, enabling them to make informed decisions. Voters, in turn, have a unique responsibility. Not only must they express, by vote, the decisions made based upon their own judgment and perspective, but also be cognizant of the consequence their vote has on all citizens of Merrimac.

There are eight simple Rules of Procedure for Merrimac Town Meeting:

1. The first action required after the announcement of any Article on the Meeting’s Warrant is that a Main Motion be proposed. The citizen sponsor of an article, Selectboard, Town Board sponsor, or Town Board with an affirmative recommendation, are likely movers of a main motion. The initial motion for the Town budget will be made by the Finance Committee. Any Town Board or voter may amend any motion for consideration and deliberation of the meeting. All motions must be seconded by a voter other than the person offering the main motion and only then can discussion and debate begin.

2. Any voter wishing to address the meeting must first gain the attention of the Moderator when next in queue at a time no other speaker has the floor. Public microphones are to be utilized, where a speaker seeking to be recognized, being courteous to others and those next in line, will call out to be heard by addressing the Moderator. Speakers must introduce themselves using their full name and street address each time speaking at a session of Town Meeting.

3. Once recognized by the Moderator, a speaker is given opportunity to speak and must address the meeting only on the article currently under discussion. Voters not doing so, or speaking in a disrespectful fashion, may be suspended from speaking on the matter at the discretion of the Moderator. Questions are welcome, as well as new information endorsing a position. A voter with a question will take precedence over stating an opinion on an article.

4. All remarks shall be addressed to and through the Moderator, for the benefit of all attendees. Direct questioning of others is not permitted. Questions may be directed, through the Moderator, to any petitioner, speaker or official and, if determined germane by the Moderator, the person asked will have the opportunity to answer, should they choose.

5. An amendment changing or limiting the main motion can be offered during the course of debate. The Moderator may rule an amendment out of order if it is beyond the scope of the warrant article. The Moderator will redirect the discussion to consider the proposed amendment once it

is properly before the meeting. Specific wording of any proposed amendment must be made available in writing to the Moderator and Town Clerk before it can be considered. The party proposing such motion shall concisely state, to the meeting, the consequence of the amendment

on the existing main motion or article being considered. Should further reference or context be necessary to provide the meeting with full understanding of the amendment, such may be allowed at the Moderator’s discretion.

6. Respectful deliberation and debate are fundamental to Town Meeting. The Moderator may seek to establish a time limit on a specific article as a guide to the meeting in order to budget time and discussion. The Moderator will discourage repetitious statements. In due course it will

become apparent that sufficient information has been presented and voters are ready to make their decision and the Moderator shall so rule. Motions to move the question to a vote are in order and are not subject to debate. A motion to move the question requires a 2/3 vote for approval. At the Moderator’s discretion, such motion may not be allowed or may be subject to debate, particularly if the motion would restrict informed consideration of the meeting or comes before an appropriate discussion has taken place on the main motion.

7. Votes are taken by three methods – voice (“Ayes” and “Nays”); display of official voting cards; or a counted vote (“show of hands”) – and declared to be complete by the Moderator when results are announced. The Moderator is empowered to make declaration of two-thirds (2/3), four-fifths (4/5), or other majority. If the declaration of a vote is doubted, a request by at least seven (7) voters, either rising or standing in place, will mandate the Moderator to request a counted vote. Issues requiring a two-thirds (2/3), four-fifths (4/5), or other majority will be clearly identified to the meeting at the time the article is presented and again at the time of the vote. Articles that require greater than majority votes may be taken by voice or a limited counted vote for the efficient conduct of the meeting.

8. There may be no distribution or display of handouts, signage, or other collateral within the confines of the meeting place at any time, whether while gathering together or during conduct of the Town Meeting. Handouts or other illustrative materials may be distributed outside the meeting venue before the check-in stations or placed on the table reserved for approved

materials. All printed material shall clearly state the author and person(s) or entity responsible for the content and printing of the material.

Guidelines for Submitting Citizen Articles for Town Meeting Warrant

An article may be included in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant by petition of ten or more registered voters (MGL c. 39 ?10). The Select Board determines the deadline for submission of warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting.

Petitions for submission of a citizen’s article may be obtained from the Office of the Town Clerk, 2-4 School Street, Merrimac, MA. The petition must have the signatures of ten registered voters in the Town of Merrimac. It is recommended that the petitioner obtain additional signatures in the event that some signatures are not certifiable by the Board of Registrars.

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk, Gwendolyn Lay Sabbagh at 978-346-8013 X2

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