Town Meeting:Town Meeting in Lexington

Town Meeting in Lexington
Introduction
History
Participants
When and Where
The Warrant
Formal Procedures
Opening Ceremonies
Speaking at Town Meeting
Rules of Debate
Motions
Parliamentary Motion Guide
Voting
Reconsideration
Adjournment
Dissolution
Guidelines and Practices
General Decorum
Documents and Information
Speaking Guidelines
Amending Motions
Ethics
Beyond Town Meeting
Referenda
Proposition 2½ and Overrides
Constituents
The Budget Process
Finances
The Budget Process
Revenues
Borrowing
Reserve Fund
The Tax Rate
Fiscal Administration
How To...
Run for Election
Prepare an Article for the Warrant
Prepare a Motion for Town Meeting
Become Informed
Resign from Town Meeting
About This Document
Contributors and older versions

Introduction

This wiki is designed to familiarize new Town Meeting Members with the workings of Town Meeting. It can also serve as a reference for all participants in Lexington government including Town officials, committee members, and other citizens.

This wiki gives a short history of Town Meeting in Lexington, and describes the current procedures and practices. It contains practical advice on being elected to Town Meeting and on how to become an informed and effective Town Meeting Member.

Additional useful information is contained in a document called TOWN OF LEXINGTON BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK, available from the Town Clerk's office.

• History
• Participants
• When and Where
• The Warrant

Formal Procedures

This section provides a summary of Lexington Town Meeting procedures. It includes many customs that have been adopted over the years. This is not a substitute for the text of the Town's By-laws, but is intended as a guide to understanding the conduct of Town Meeting.

• Opening Ceremonies
• Speaking at Town Meeting
• Rules of Debate
• Motions
• Parliamentary Motion Guide
• Voting at Town Meeting
• Reconsideration
• Adjournment
• Dissolution

Guidelines and Practices

This section covers guidelines and informal practices that Town Meeting Members are urged to follow during Town Meeting.

• General Decorum
• Documents and Information
• Speaking Guidelines
• Amending Motions
• Ethics

Beyond Town Meeting

A lot of important things happen while Town Meeting is not in session.

• Referenda
• Proposition 2½ and Overrides

The Budget Process

• Finances
• The Budget Process
• Revenues
• Borrowing
• Reserve Fund
• The Tax Rate
• Fiscal Administration

How To...

• Run for Election
• Run a Campaign
• Prepare an Article for the Warrant
• Prepare a Motion for Town Meeting
• Become Informed
• Resign from Town Meeting

Town Meeting Members Association

• Town Meeting and the Town Meeting Members Association

About This Document

This is the fifth version of Town Meeting in Lexington, and the first online version.

Contributors: Edith Sandy, Glenn P. Parker, Andrei Radulescu-Banu, Kathryn R. Colburn, Molly Nye, Vicki Blier

Revision History of Town Meeting in Lexington