Published in the October 3, 2018 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Board of Selectmen last week submitted four warrant articles seeking to streamline Town Meeting.
Town Meeting Study Committee (TMSC) Chairman Jack Adelson gave an overview of the four different articles that will be appearing on the Oct. 15 Town Meeting warrant during the Board of Selectmen’s Sept. 26 meeting. He said the warrant articles would amend the town’s General Bylaws.
“(The selectmen) asked us to investigate how we can improve Town Meeting to make it more efficient, productive and convenient,” said Adelson. “I think anecdotally, we all know it can be a grind.”
Adelson noted the TMSC submitted a survey to 4,500 residents included with the Town Census, and the committee received 1,300 responses.
“The big takeaway was people want shorter meetings,” said Adelson. “That normally prevents people from going to Town Meeting in the first place.”
Adelson also said the survey’s responders want electronic voting and electronic check-in, which will now be fixtures at Town Meeting going forward. He also said residents do not want the 175-voter quorum requirement to change.
“That was emphatic,” said Adelson.
As part of the process of making recommendations to the selectmen, Adelson said the TMSC worked closely with Town Moderator Arthur Bourque and Town Clerk Trudy Reid. Adelson noted Reid currently serves as Wenham’s town moderator.
“We had two town moderators advising us and I can’t thank them enough,” said Adelson.
Adelson said the committee observed town meetings in Ipswich, North Reading, Rockport and Wayland. He said attending those meetings proved to be educational and valuable.
“We have come up with four common sense recommendations that will get the ball rolling and help,” said Adelson.
Adelson said Article 5 seeks to limit formal presentations to 10 minutes.
“Any person who wishes to offer the principal presentation in support of the main motion under an article must so notify the moderator prior to the session at which the article is called,” reads Article 5. “Unless granted an extension of time by vote of the meeting, the individual speaking as the principal proponent on a main motion shall not speak for more than 10 minutes. If more than one person indicates a desire to make a presentation in support of the article, the moderator may divide the time. The same rules will apply should there be a principal speaker in opposition.”
Selectmen Chairman Dick Dalton expressed his support for Article 5.
“I think that is pretty straight forward,” said Dalton.
Adelson said Article 6 seeks to limit the number of minutes a person can speak about one particular warrant article.
“No person shall speak more than three minutes at one time, and no more than twice upon any question, provided that no person shall speak a second time on any question if there are others who desire to speak on it for a first time, except to answer an inquiry or to give information requested, without first obtaining leave of the meeting,” reads Article 6.
Adelson noted a number of towns have caps on speaking time.
“We compromised on three minutes, which we feel is more than enough time, with the rarest of exceptions, to succinctly state your support or opposition to an article,” said Adelson.
Adelson said Article 7 regulates the start time and end time for Town Meeting.
“Each session of a Town Meeting required by Section 2-3-1 or Section 2-3-2 of the Charter or of a Special Town Meeting shall begin no earlier than 7 p.m., and no such session shall conclude later than 10:30 p.m. unless at such hour a deliberation and/or vote is in progress, in which event action under the article shall be completed prior to adjournment,” reads Article 7. “No consideration of an article shall be commenced after 10:30 p.m. unless the meeting votes to hear and act upon such article, notwithstanding the hour, or votes to postpone adjournment to a specific, later time, or votes to defer adjournment until all warrant articles have been acted upon.”
Adelson said many towns have regulations for a town meeting’s start time and end time.
“We thought that made sense,” said Adelson.
Adelson said Article 8 pertains to reconsideration.
“When final action has been taken under an article and the meeting has taken up the next order of business, or adjourned, the subject matter of such article may not again be taken under consideration unless, in the discretion of the moderator, a significant error or omission occurred in connection with the meeting’s action under that article, or a significant change in circumstances has occurred, such that there is a substantial likelihood that the outcome could change upon reconsideration or that reconsideration is in the town’s best interest,” reads Article 8. “Upon a motion and second for reconsideration, the moderator shall ask the maker of the motion to state the circumstances necessitating reconsideration. If, in the opinion of the moderator, reconsideration meets the criteria…the moderator shall so state and the meeting shall proceed without debate to a majority vote on the motion for reconsideration.”
Adelson said the TMSC felt “this business of reconsidering things and hope they fail makes no sense at all.”
“We couldn’t find that in many towns,” said Adelson.
Selectmen reaction
Dalton noted reconsideration is “the most confusing part” of Town Meeting.
“People don’t know what is going on and which way they should vote,” said Dalton.
Adelson agreed.
“I think it’s inequitable,” said Adelson.
Selectman Phil Crawford expressed his support for the proposed Town Meeting changes.
He said, “I think it’s going to streamline Town Meeting. The reconsideration piece has been befuddling to everybody in the room every time it’s done.”
In response to a question from Crawford, Adelson said the four articles, if approved, will be “subject to the discretion of Town Meeting.”
“There is nothing dictatorial in (the warrant articles),” said Adelson.
Selectman Chris Barrett thanked Bourque for “bringing this committee forward.” He also thanked Adelson and the rest of the TMSC for creating the four warrant articles.
