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Town of Webster, MA
Worcester County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (13) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting 5-8-1988 ATM, Art. 98, as Sec. 10.0 of the General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-12-2014 ATM, Art. 10; 6-6-2016 STM, Art. 15; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
Notice of every Town Meeting shall be given by publishing notice of the warrant in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town at least seven days preceding the meeting in the case of Annual Town Meeting and at least 14 days preceding the meeting in the case of Special Town Meetings, and posting attested copies of the complete warrant in the Office of the Town Clerk, at the Town Library, and on the Town web site in a legible fashion. [Reference: Charter Section 2-5]
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
All miscellaneous articles or articles from the general public for the inclusion in the spring or fall Annual Town Meeting warrant shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen during the period the warrant is open. The warrant shall not close more than 45 days in advance of the Town Meeting.
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
The Board of Selectmen shall have the right to publish different closing dates for the warrant articles which are closer to the period/dates specified for acceptance of articles prior to any Town Meeting by the Charter. However, in no case shall an article be accepted after the final publication or posting of any warrant. Provisions of General Laws shall prevail should any conflict arise.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 253-4, Late warrant articles, was repealed 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
The Spring Annual Town Meeting for the transaction of business shall be held on the second Monday of May at 7:00 p.m. in the Bartlett High School or any other adequate place to be designated by the Board of Selectmen in the Warrant announcing the meeting.
The Fall Annual Town Meeting for the transaction of business shall be held on the Third Monday of October at 7:00 p.m. in the Bartlett High School or any other adequate place to be designated by the Board of Selectmen in the Warrant announcing the meeting.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 253-7, Town Election date, as amended, was repealed 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23. See now Ch. 255, Elections.
The presence of 61 voters at a Town Meeting for the transaction of business shall constitute a quorum, except for a motion to adjourn for which no quorum shall be required; provided, however, that no lack of the required quorum unless it appears from the records of the Town Clerk of the meeting that before the result of such vote the question of the presence of a quorum was duly raised and that such records show that the required quorum was lacking.
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
In all protocol matters, Town Meeting shall be conducted in accordance with the latest revised edition of "TOWN MEETING TIME" except as otherwise provided by General Laws, the Charter, this bylaw or procedural rules enacted by the Town Moderator. [Reference: Charter Section 2-8 (f)]
[Amended 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
A. 
The Moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings at all Town Meetings, decide all questions of order and make public declaration of all votes.
B. 
Any vote taken at Town Meeting may be taken electronically at the discretion of the Town Moderator. Any electronic devices or systems so used must have been previously approved for use by the Moderator.
All motions submitted for consideration of the Town shall be in writing if required by the presiding officer or by a majority of the Town Meeting members present. Every person speaking shall address the Moderator in a standing position.
[1]
Editor's Note; Former § 253-12, Committees and motions, was repealed 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23.
[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 215-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
A. 
A final vote of the Town Meeting may be reconsidered under the following circumstances.
B. 
Any Town Meeting Member desiring reconsideration of a vote taken under an Article, at a Town Meeting session that has not adjourned must make a motion within 15 minutes of the final vote which is the subject or reconsideration. The motion must be accompanied by a statement outlining the reasons for requesting reconsideration, which shall be limited to the following:
(1) 
New information not available to the Town Meeting at the time the Article was considered; or
(2) 
Substantial evidence that Town Meeting Members were confused as to the basis or nature of the action that they took.
(3) 
Said motion for Reconsideration shall require a 2/3 majority vote to suspend the rules.
[Amended 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 37; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 23]
Articles appearing on the Warrant of any Town Meeting that voters have rejected or passed over may not be resubmitted prior to the next Annual Town Meeting unless the Selectmen have declared the Article to be of an emergency nature or unless by petition of voters in accordance with MGL c. 39, § 10, as amended, or unless passed over for additional information. Articles tabled during the Town Meeting may be resubmitted for the next or any annual or special Town Meeting.
The vote of the people of Webster under the referendum procedures (Section 2-15) of the Charter shall be considered as action taken by the Town Meeting.