[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Andover/North Andover

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Promoting Best Practices at Town Meeting

Positions adopted by the LWV A/NA following study and consensus.


The LWV of Andover/North Andover supports:
  • Open Town Meeting.
  • Publicizing the procedure for citizens to include items on the warrant.
  • Annual publication of moderators' rules and procedures that are not Robert's Rules, in advance of Town Meeting, listed in the Finance Committee Report and in various media. Moderators should give a brief explanation of customs and procedures of Town Meeting at the start of each meeting.
  • Reasonable hours for opening and adjourning Town Meeting with no new business introduced after 10:00-10:30 PM unless a majority of those present vote to do so.
  • Delayed cablevision of Town Meeting and archiving of the video tapes, both financed by the town.
  • There should be no quorum requirement for Town Meeting.
  • Consent agendas.
  • Improved public education about warrant articles prior to Town Meeting through town media, civic organizations and private media, and ensure distribution of the warrant to every household.
  • The use of pro and con microphones, at moderator's discretion, when appropriate.
  • Strict enforcement of time limits for speakers, presenters and communicators.
  • Inclusion of recommendations of appropriate boards in Finance Committee report/warrant, as required by law.
  • Disclosure by speakers of any vested interest or the absence of any vested interest when speaking to an article, as required by town bylaw.
  • Advocating for the expanded use of technology to make Town Meeting more user friendly.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: July 2, 2008 19:14 PDT.

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