Communication between Town Meeting Members and their Constituents
There are at least three ways for Lexington citizens to contact their Town Meeting Members:
- by mail
- by telephone
- by email
Addresses and telephone numbers of Town Meeting Members are listed on the town web site. Email addresses are listed on the Town Meeting Members’ Association website.
There are no rules governing the manner in which Town Meeting Members interact with their constituents. It is preferable, however, for Members to be willing to receive and respond to communications on relevant matters. Members are free to establish email lists, mailing lists, or social media sites to facilitate communication with citizens, but such measures are not required. Members are also free to hold in-person meetings with their constituents.
Members should consider their constituents’ opinions on Town Meeting business, but they are not obligated to vote in accordance with constituents’ views. If a constituent cannot or chooses not to attend Town Meeting, but would like to share an opinion on a topic under consideration, the Town Meeting Member may read a statement from that constituent, whether or not that opinion comports with the Member’s own beliefs. It is common for Members to read such statements during debate and to note whether he or she agrees with the statement. Members may also express the views of constituents via the TMMA email list.