To the editor:
Marblehead’s Annual Town Meeting will be called to order promptly at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5, at the Veterans School Performing Arts Center, Duncan Sleigh Square, 217 Pleasant St. Please be prepared for lines at check-in. The meeting will assemble the 376th Annual Legislative session of our town since our incorporation in 1649.
Town Meeting has many moving parts, both in preparation and practice. My goal is to guide the legislative leaders of our town through a deliberative and orderly process while taking into consideration the balance of shared information and the reality of the time needed to process and complete the town’s business. I will strive to give appropriate time for each article to be heard and, in some circumstances, will follow the guidance of years past and limit time following initial presentations to 2 minutes. If you know that you will be speaking on an issue, I recommend that you prepare in advance, as a considerable amount of information can be covered within that time. Initial presentations for each article will be allotted 10 minutes, unless otherwise requested and approved in advance. Any printed materials intended for distribution inside the meeting room must be approved prior to the meeting. Please contact me directly at the number at the bottom of this column if you would like to share such printed materials.
The process of Town Meeting begins in earnest with the posting of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. The warrant acts as a notice to the meeting, and the articles in the warrant become the agenda items for the meeting. Prior to presentation at the meeting, articles are converted to main motions, which must be in scope of the posted article. Main motions can be superseded by subsidiary motions, which, when moved, are required to be acted upon before a main motion. In the instance of multiple subsidiary motions, each motion carries a rank of order in which they will be presented at the meeting. An important note in this regard is that I have received notice that a citizen plans to make a motion at Article 1 to alter the numerical order of the presentation of articles after Article 1. This is an example of how delicate the process of motions can be, and legislators should be prepared.
As we have witnessed over the past 2 meetings, our bylaws allow for the procedural act through a main motion for reconsideration of a prior vote. Amongst other things, the person moving for reconsideration must have voted on the prevailing side of the initial vote. If so moved, confirmation of that vote will be made by verifying the direction of their vote on the random voting device issued when the citizen checked into the meeting. Following the surrender of the voting device, the citizen will be issued another random voting device for the remainder of the meeting.
By design, Town Meeting is a process for deliberation and decision-making through the broadest level of participation in a community. It is a commitment and sometimes a sacrifice to participate. Good order is expected and is for the benefit of all in attendance and for the proceedings. I encourage the citizenry to join on May 5 as we gather as individuals to collectively decide the business of the town. Should you have any questions, I can be reached at 781-883-3200.
Jack Attridge
Town Moderator
