Town Meeting Government in South Hadley

On this page, you'll find information on town meeting government in South Hadley. Information is divided into the following categories:

• History

• Town Meeting: General Description

• Preparation for Town Meeting: The Warrant

• Preparation for Town Meeting: The Appropriations Committee

• Conduct of Town Meeting

• Allowance for Referendum

• Special Town Meeting

History
The Town Meeting has remained the basis of town government in New England and in parts of New York State since early colonial times. Like many of the 312 towns of Massachusetts, South Hadley has no charter. It carries on its business under the constitution and General Laws of the State; special laws enacted from time to time for this town by the General Court (Legislature) and accepted by the voters; a body of custom and precedent; and its own by-laws and regulations, passed by Town Meeting.

The Town Meeting of South Hadley gives its elected representatives the privilege of participation by discussing and voting for changes and additions to the Town’s By-Laws and for setting the budget. It was changed from an open to representative form of Town Meeting in 1933.

Under the General Laws, the state regulates all municipalities in such areas as finance (debt limit, taxation, etc.), traffic rules, welfare, public health, educational standards. Up to the present, Massachusetts’s cities and towns have had less freedom than those of many other states to decide purely local matters. Hence there are many "special laws" for which South Hadley and other communities have had to appeal to the Legislature. Home Rule is now set out in the General Laws of Massachusetts.

In the last century, it was quite usual, on passing the population mark (12,000) required by state law for a city, for Massachusetts towns to change from Town Meeting to city government. For many years now, however, this practice has not been followed, and even a town as large as Brookline (over 60,000) still functions under Town Meeting government, with certain helpful modifications.

Many towns of from 8,000 to 60,000 population have adopted one or more of five plans to modernize and streamline their government without giving up the Selectmen-Town Meeting framework. In 1978, South Hadley selectmen appointed their first administrative assistant. In 1990, Town meeting voted to increase the Board of Selectmen to five members. These two changes help to deal with the increasing complexities of town government.

Annual Town Meeting: General Description
At the heart of town government in South Hadley, as in all New England towns, is the Annual Town Meeting, held here on the second Saturday in May and occupying most of the day. This meeting is essentially a legislative session, at which the policies and the budget for the ensuing year are voted. Town By-Laws may be added or changed. Other actions affecting the town may be taken. Schools, highways, sewers, and recreation are some of the areas of daily life controlled by the budget decisions made here, which in turn affect the property tax rate. Zoning questions often come up for consideration.

The results of this meeting together with funds from the state and federal government, generally determine the tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1. However, sometimes labor contracts are unsettled at this time and a Special Town Meeting may be necessary when negotiations are completed, or nearly so, to complete the forthcoming town budget. After the tax rate is set, no action may be taken by a special town meeting to affect that rate. Special town meetings may be held at any time, but any monies voted after the tax rate is set must be transferred from available funds by a vote of the meeting.

The "legislators" number: The 120 elected Town Meeting members representing the five town precincts; plus ex officio members, including the Town Clerk-Treasurer, the five Selectmen, all nine members of the Committee on Appropriations, the chairman of most boards (both elected and appointed), the Tax Collector, Town Accountant and the Town Counsel. The quorum required for conducting business is a majority of the approximately 143.

Preparation for the Annual Town Meeting: The Warrant
The Town Warrant is a legal document containing the articles which will be discussed and voted upon at the Town Meeting. It must state the date, place and time of the meeting. The Selectmen have the responsibility for drawing up the Warrant or agenda for Town Meeting. It consists of numbered paragraphs ("articles"), most of which are submitted by the Selectmen. Other articles may be put in at the request of the voters, even a few voters, if the Selectmen approve their content. The Warrant must include any article presented as a formal petition by ten voters. All articles to be brought up in an Annual Town Meeting must be submitted to the Board of Selectmen by 5:00 P.M., 42 days before the Town Meeting (or by practice, submitted at least 18 days prior to a Special Town Meeting). The Town Counsel verifies that all articles are in good legal form. The Warrant must be posted at least seven days before Town Meeting at the places listed under "Posting of Ballots". The Warrant is published a week or so before Town Meeting and available from the Town Clerk.

Preparation for Annual Town Meeting: Work of the Appropriations Committee
Through the winter the Appropriations Committee confers with every department on its proposed budget. Not less than 21 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting, the Committee holds a public hearing at which each department chairman presents, explains, and defends his/her budget request. This hearing is a chance for Town Meeting members and other citizens to question or challenge specific budget requests before the Appropriations Committee. (Attendance at this hearing is a vivid lesson in town government, and can be a great help in informing Town Meeting members on the full background of budget requests which they will shortly vote upon.) After this hearing the Appropriations Committee formulates its recommendations on the different budgets, based on value and the money the town can afford, and publishes its decisions, often with thoughtful explanations, and mails them to Town Meeting members for study. Although the Committee’s recommendations are purely advisory, they carry considerable weight.

Conduct of Annual Town Meeting
The moderator presides and, as s/he takes up the business of the meeting article by article, sees that there is orderly progress of business. Each article on the Warrant must be voted upon in some way, but no item not on the Warrant may be considered. The Selectmen usually present the articles submitted by their office. The Moderator recognizes those who wish to debate an issue, not only the Town Meeting members, but also other citizens, who may speak, although they may not vote. A vote of Town Meeting is effective immediately. The Town Counsel may be appealed to about the legality of any action.

Allowance for a Referendum
Voters desiring a referendum must, within seven days, bring in a formal petition to the Selectmen signed by not less than 50 registered voters from each precinct, the total being not less that five percent of the number of registered voters of the town. Within 14 days after the filing of the petition the Selectmen must arrange for a referendum vote by ballot at the usual polling places. (Consult Town Clerk for further details.)

Special Town Meeting
Special Town Meetings may be called by the Selectmen when unexpected business arises which must be transacted by the elected representatives of the voters. Warrant must be posted 14 days before Special Town Meeting. If the Warrant contains articles involving finance, a public hearing must be called by the Appropriations Committee not less than five days before such Special Town Meeting.

When a Special Town Meeting is being called, the Selectmen must include in the Warrant any article submitted to them as a formal petition signed by 100 voters. A Special Town Meeting must be called if the Selectmen are presented with a petition signed by 200 registered voters.