Laws Regarding Town Moderator
Section 9. Annual town meeting; other meetings; election of officers; times; adjournment; holidays
Except as otherwise provided by special law or a charter adopted or revised or amended under Sections two, three, or four of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth which may provide for a different time for the election of town officials and other matters to be determined by ballot, the annual meeting of each town shall be held in February, March, April or May; and other meetings may be held at such times as the selectmen may order or the charter or by-law prescribe; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the provisions of this section or of any other law, by-law, or charter to the contrary, a town, by the vote of its board of selectmen or town council may delay the annual town meeting; and provided, further, that such a delayed annual town meeting shall complete its business on or before June thirtieth... More
Section 9A. Election of officers and other matters determined by ballot; meetings; time and place; warrants
Except as otherwise provided by special law or a charter adopted or revised or amended under Sections two, three or four of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, a town may provide by charter or by-law that the election of town officials and other matters to be determined by ballot shall take place in February, March, April or May before or after the annual meeting held for the transaction of other business, provided said annual meeting for the transaction of other business is also held or commences in February, March, April or May... More
Section 10. Warrant; issuance; contents
Every town meeting or town election, except as hereinafter provided, shall be called in pursuance of a warrant, under the hands of the selectmen, notice of which shall be given at least seven days before the annual meeting or an annual or special election and at least fourteen days before any special town meeting... More
Section 11. Persons authorized to call meetings upon resignation of selectmen
If a majority of the selectmen or any less number shall vacate their offices, or if the full number shall fail to be elected or qualified, the selectmen in office may call a town meeting. If there are no remaining selectmen, the town clerk may call it; and, if there is no town clerk, a justice of the peace may call it in the manner prescribed in the following section.
Section 12. Persons authorized to call meetings upon refusal of selectmen
If the selectmen unreasonably refuse to call a town meeting, a justice of the peace, upon written application of one hundred registered voters or of ten percent of the total number of registered voters of the town, may call a meeting by a warrant under his hand, stating the subjects to be acted upon, directed to the constables of the town if there are any, otherwise to any of the persons applying therefor, directing them to summon the inhabitants
Section 15. Moderators; powers and duties
The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes, and may administer in open meeting the oath of office to any town officer chosen thereat... More
Section 16. Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties.
Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election... More
Section 17. Powers of moderator; preservation of order.
No person shall address a town meeting without leave of the moderator, and all persons shall, at the request of the moderator, be silent. If a person, after warning from the moderator, persists in disorderly behavior, the moderator may order him to withdraw from the meeting, and, if he does not withdraw, may order a constable or any other person to remove him and confine him in some convenient place until the meeting is adjourned.
Section 18. Duties of moderators; reception of votes.
The moderator shall receive the vote of any person whose name is on the voting list or who presents a proper certificate from the registrars of voters.