Northborough resident Laura Ziton is a bit of a local government nerd. While not an expert in the subject of local government, she has a deep curiosity about the democratic process, which has led her to learn quite a bit about the processes in Northborough and beyond. In an effort to get more people interested in and prepared for this year’s Town Meeting, she has agreed to answer some common questions.
Northborough’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, April 25, 6 p.m. at the Algonquin Regional High School auditorium.
Town Meeting allows registered voters the opportunity to participate in one of the oldest and most direct forms of government. They are invited to come together to legislate local policy and budgets.
There are often questions about Town Meeting, especially if you are new to town and haven’t experienced decision making in this way.
Is Town Meeting always in April? The current bylaws designate the fourth Monday in April as the day of the annual Town Meeting. Interestingly, this year, voters will have the opportunity to vote on a new Town Meeting day for future years, the option is for the Saturday preceding the fourth Monday of April. This is being brought forward as a Citizens Petition (Article 42).
What should I expect when arriving at Town Meeting? Everyone can attend the Annual Town Meeting. When you arrive, you will be asked to check in. All registered voters will be given a card for voting. Next to the check-in table, will be copies of town documents including the school budgets, annual report and other town material that is of interest to you, feel free to take them. You can then enter the auditorium and pick your seat.
If you are too young or not yet registered to vote, you can still attend. Check your voter registration status here online.
There will be a designated area for those residents who are still most comfortable wearing masks and are more comfortable with social distancing.
Is there a quorum that must be met to hold Town Meeting? Yes! A quorum shall consist of 100 registered voters. What this means to the other 15,000 people in town is only 100 people are needed to legislate policy and town spending.
Can I leave before the meeting is over? Yes. There are no requirements for when you can come and go. If we have less than a quorum, the meeting will pause until a quorum can be assembled.
What is the Warrant and how can I find a copy of it to review before the meeting? A warrant is a document issued by the Board of Selectmen to call a town meeting. A warrant is a list of articles to be voted on by those registered voters who are present. View the full list of all the items on the 2022 warrant.
This year, we will again have a consent agenda. A consent agenda groups several articles together and although they are included in one action, voters may separate articles individually to have a discussion and a separate vote for or against. By doing this, the grouped articles can be approved in one action, rather than through the filing of multiple motions.
How else can I prepare to be informed going into Town Meeting? Before attending Town Meeting, you are able to review the warrant. While the Selectmen decide what will be on the warrant, many boards contribute to the content including the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Appropriations Committee, Finance Committee, Town Staff, etc.
You can review the various board meetings on the Northborough Cable YouTube Page at your leisure.
What is the moderator’s role at Town Meeting? Per Massachusetts General Law, the Moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes. If you would like to make a statement at Town Meeting, you need to be recognized by the Moderator by standing at one of the microphone stations.
In addition to overseeing our annual town meeting, the Moderator also makes appointments to the Appropriations Committee, Financial Planning Committee, Municipal Code and Bylaw Committee and the Personnel Board.
Will residents be able to ask questions before a vote on an article? Yes! Each article will be read followed by a presentation explaining what the Article is and why it is being proposed. If you would like to comment on the Article, please walk up to the nearest microphone and wait to be acknowledged by the Moderator. Once the Moderator acknowledges you, please state your name and address and you will then be able to state your thoughts on the Article.
After all feedback has been heard, there will be a vote on the Article.
How do I vote on an Article? Following the Article presentation and comments, the Moderator will ask all in favor to raise their voting cards. Then the Moderator will ask all those opposed to raise their voting cards. The Moderator looks at the number of hands in general and decides which side prevailed.
If the show of cards appears to be even balanced between a yes vote and a no vote, the moderator will ask for an individual hand count.
Why is a majority vote required sometimes, while a two-thirds vote is required at other times? Most articles require a simple majority vote to be approved. State law requires that some articles, like zoning bylaw changes, achieve a two-thirds supermajority to be considered approved. View the table of basic motions at the end of this article.
In addition, this year Article 21 relating to the purchase of 4 West Main Street (old Town Hall) will also require a two-thirds vote.
View additional resources: