Town Meeting:The Warrant

The Warrant, the name given to the agenda for Town Meeting, is the "warning" or notification issued to the citizens, stating the time, place, and subject matter to be discussed and voted upon at the meeting. Each item of business is called a Warrant Article.

Traditionally, the Warrant is addressed to one of the Town's constables, who is required to give notice of the meeting to the Town's residents. The Warrant must be served at least seven days before the Annual Town Meeting and 14 days before a Special Town Meeting. The Warrant is mailed to each household in Lexington, as well as posted in the Town Office Building. Additional copies are placed in the libraries. Further notification of the Town Meeting is publicly posted in the Town Office Building before each session stating the date, time, place, and list of articles by number still to be acted upon.

Town Meeting can vote only on articles contained in the Warrant. Every action taken on a particular Warrant article must be within the "scope" of that article. Under Massachusetts law, only the Moderator has the authority to decide whether a motion comes within the scope of the article.

The order of articles on the Warrant is determined by the Board of Selectmen, who try to organize the business of Town Meeting according to subject matter and in an order that will assist discussion of major proposals. Town Meeting can vote to take up an article "out of order" or postpone consideration while other articles are considered.

In Lexington, the Town Meeting may consider only those resolutions whose subject matter is set forth in a Warrant article. Resolutions are expressions of the Town Meeting's feelings and do become part of the official Town Meeting record but are not legally binding.

Citizens of the Town may present an article on any subject to be included in the Warrant. The Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting "closes" at a time set by the Board of Selectmen, usually the end of December. For more information, see Town_Meeting:How to prepare an article for the Warrant.