Town Meeting:Speaking at Town Meeting

Although any citizen may speak at Town Meeting, only Town Meeting Members are permitted to make motions and amendments and to vote on articles. Each time a Town Meeting member rises to speak, he or she should first address the Moderator and then give his or her name and precinct. Board and committee members should give their names and the names of the boards. Citizens should state their name and address before proceeding with their remarks. All speakers are asked to use a microphone. There are microphones on the floor for the Town Meeting Members and an additional one in the balcony for other citizens. Those making amendments should use the presenter's microphone at the front. Remarks must be relevant to the subject under discussion. Personal attacks on individuals, committees, or citizen groups should be avoided. Applause and demonstrations of approval or disapproval are not permitted. All members shall, at the request of the Moderator, be silent. Any citizen may speak at Town Meeting under the same time limits as Town Meeting Members. In recent years, each speaker has been allotted three minutes. Those wishing to be heard should notify the Moderator or a Town Meeting Member in advance, but it is perfectly proper, if no one has the floor, to stand and seek to be recognized by saying, "Madam/Mr. Moderator." The Moderator and Town Counsel are available for consultation for anyone seeking to participate.

On certain special occasions, which do not fall within the scope of the articles on the Warrant, the Town Meeting may go into recess. An example is when citizens are honored or thanked for their public service or when a board or committee asks for time to caucus in order to arrive at a position on a motion under consideration.