About Town Meetings:
One of the hallmarks of New England is citizen participation in the running of local government. Since colonial days the operation of Massachusetts town governments has been prescribed by an annual gathering of the townspeople. The Annual Town Meeting, as this institution is known, continues to be a vital part of today’s political landscape and provides one of the few contemporary examples of grass roots democracy in operation.
Town Meeting Date: Great Barrington holds its Annual Town Meeting traditionally during the month of May, although it can be held any time prior to the end of June. The general purposes are to establish an annual operating budget, to authorize borrowing if necessary and to consider amendments to zoning and general bylaws or policies.
The Warrant: The business of Town Meeting is governed by a document called the warrant. The warrant is a notice containing the date, time, place and agenda for the Town Meeting. Each item of business to be discussed is presented in the Warrant as a separate and distinct article. The warrant is posted at the Town Hall, the Post offices in Great Barrington and Housatonic and the Housatonic Drug Store as well as at www.greatbarrington-ma.gov
Warrant postings for Annual Town Meeting & Election: posted seven (7) days prior
Warrant for Special Town Meeting: posted fourteen (14) days prior
The Warrant for the Town Meeting is prepared by the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen with input from other Town departments and officials. The Finance Committee along with the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen prepare the annual operating budget. The Finance Committee votes on each financial article and recommends to Town Meeting whether or not they should be approved.
Citizen Request for Articles on the Warrant: As a further example of the democratic nature of the process, state law reserves for the townspeople the right to petition the Board of Selectmen to place articles on the warrant. If the Board of Selectmen receives a written petition signed by ten or more registered voters, the item which is the subject of the petition must be placed on the annual town meeting warrant.
Role of the Moderator: The Town Meeting is conducted by an elected moderator. The moderator maintains order while methodically moving through the articles of the warrant. The Town Clerk keeps the record of the meeting and Town Counsel is present to provide legal guidance.
Who May Participate: In Great Barrington, all residents who registered to vote at least twenty (20) days prior to the Town Meeting may attend and actively participate in the Annual Town Meeting and the Annual Town Election. Participation can range from passive observance, to offering motions on articles to good old fashioned political oratory.
Special Town Meeting: If an important issue arises after the annual town meeting is adjourned, the Board of Selectmen may call a Special Town Meeting. If the Board of Selectmen receives a petition signed by two hundred (200) registered voters or twenty percent (20%) of the total number of registered voters (whichever is the lesser) a Special Town Meeting must be called. The process is essentially the same as the Annual Town Meeting, except that the warrant for a Special Town Meeting must be posted at least fourteen days in advance of the meeting and voters must be registered at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
Rules: Town Meetings in Great Barrington are governed by Town Meeting Times, the Massachusetts General Laws and the Great Barrington Bylaws. Persons wishing to make a presentation at a town meeting or nonvoters wishing to address the town meeting regarding a specific article, must have prior approval of the Moderator.
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