Promoting Best Practices at Town Meeting

League of Women Voters^®
of Andover/North Andover

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: August 25, 2010 18:00 PDT.