How to be Heard at Annual Town Meeting

Town Meeting is a form of local government unique to New England. Both a legislative body and an event, the democratic nature of Town Meeting gives voters who attend a direct say in how their small-town government is run.

Shutesbury’s Annual Town Meeting (ATM) is being held outdoors on May 21 this year and promises to be very exciting. This year, residents will be asked to vote on several significant articles:

➢ The acceptance of the Small Library Pilot Project award and a possible debt excluded override vote to fund a new library; 

➢ Replacement of the asphalt shingle section of the Shutesbury Elementary School roof;

➢ The borrowing of $225,000 to purchase a new dump truck; 

➢ A completely revamped Town Buildings Committee charge;

➢ A slew of local option property tax exemptions.

With so many important issues on tap for voters to weigh in on, attending ATM this year is of the utmost necessity. But many voters stay away from this democratic exercise because they feel disempowered. They think outcomes are pre-determined and their votes do not count. 

As Shutesbury’s Town Moderator, Paul Lyons is responsible for running Town Meeting efficiently and acknowledging voters who wish to speak to the assembly. He has been encouraging residents to share their feelings about ATM, trying to get to the root of why so few voters attend. I spoke with him recently about the ways people can get more involved in Town Meeting, and have their voices heard.

Here are some of my questions and concerns along with the substance of Mr. Lyons’ responses. Additional fleshing out of concepts is courtesy of the Massachusetts Moderator’s Association website and websites of municipalities using the rules of procedure laid out in the Association’s publication, Town Meeting Time.

What rules of procedure are used at Annual Town Meeting?

The type of Parliamentary procedure used by most Town Moderators at Town Meetings is contained in a handbook called Town Meeting Time. This book is published by the Massachusetts Moderators Association and uses a modified version of “Robert’s Rules of Order” fine-tuned to fit the unique nature of New England Town Meetings (see “Resources” below).

Is it possible to change the order of warrant articles?

Yes, though there must be a good reason since it is assumed that the Select Board had a rationale for putting them in a specific order. Any voter can make a motion to move articles on the warrant using these motions:

Postponing/Advancing an Article–all require a motion and a second:

• Postpone to a Time Certain (either the same or a different day; often used to rearrange articles): Can be debated, is amendable, requires a majority vote;

• Lay on the Table (to kill or postpone an article): Non-debatable, is non-amendable, required ⅔ vote;

• Postpone Indefinitely (to kill or postpone an article): Can be debated, is non-amendable, requires a majority vote;

• Advance an Article (for earlier consideration): Can be debated, is amendable, requires a majority vote.

Some citizens feel they have no voice at ATM compared to town officials. Can you comment?

Town officials often speak more and have fewer time limits because their speeches are informational. However, when they are giving their personal opinion they are subject to the same time limits as everyone else–usually, two minutes. As for how many times a participant may speak, the Moderator usually uses their best judgment in order to make certain everyone who wants to has a chance to speak.

If voters believe there is erroneous information contained in an officially-sponsored warrant article, can they be prevented from speaking by Town Officials?

No, this is always up to the Moderator, who can use their judgment regarding time limits in cases where citizens have important information to share with Town Meeting.

In the case of a contentious vote, such as the upcoming vote on the Small Library Pilot Project, will you, as Moderator, commit to a secret paper ballot vote on the floor of ATM this year?

Yes, I will call for a paper ballot.

Remember…

➢ Shutesbury’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 21 outdoors behind Town Hall.

➢ The ATM warrant must be made public at least 7 days before Town Meeting.

➢ In addition to the voluminous warrant, there will be elections of various town officials–including a contest between a newcomer and an incumbent for one of three Select Board seats.

➢ This is an unusual Town Meeting year in that we will be asked to accept the Small Library Pilot grant and, if we vote to do so, we will be asked to borrow $1.2 million for a new library. The vote to actually borrow the money will be toward the end of June “at the ballot box” in the form of a debt excluded override vote. 

➢ We are, above all, a community. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Let us treat each other with respect, kindness, and open-mindedness. Let’s enjoy ourselves! There’s no reason Town Meeting can’t be fun.

Make your voice heard by attending Annual Town Meeting! 

Other Resources:

Shutesbury Town Meeting: Formal Aspects

Citizens’ Guide to Town Meetings

Massachusetts Moderators Association: For the Public

Town Meeting Handbook: Becket, MA

Q & A with Don Wakoluk, Candidate for Shutesbury Select Board

Courtesy of Clipart Library

According to Shutesbury.org, “Boards of selectmen have general supervision over all matters that are not specifically delegated by law, or by vote of the town, to another office of board.” The Select Board is answerable only to the voters of Shutesbury.

The Select Board is an elected position, with a term of three years. Each year, one of those positions comes up for election/re-election. This year, Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil is running for re-election and Donald Wakoluk is running against her as a newcomer.

I reached out to both candidates with a request for a question-and-answer-style interview. Incumbent Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil did not respond. Here is what Donald Wakoluk had to say. 

                                                         

1. Why are you running for the Shutesbury Select Board?  What do you hope to accomplish?

After AMP met with town hall and pro solar farm statements were published on the town webpage, I felt that elected and unelected officials had become tainted by the interaction. No Notice of Intent had been filed regarding Solar Farms and these comments from town officials were a violation of trust in our boards and bylaws. I ran as a write-in last year and decided to run on the ballot this year. The false rumors of large sums of money from AMP have divided the town. As an ex-Army officer trained in democratic, inclusive leadership, I feel it is my duty to offer hope to ALL residents and welcome them to participate in running town hall.

2.  What do you see as the major issue/issues facing Shutesbury today? Ten years from now?

A lack of inclusive leadership, an unwillingness by elected officials to hold public discussions of divisive issues other than under the constraints of board meetings conducted via zoom, an absence of seeking consensus from residents who are not board members, and unrepresentative government. Climate change over the next decade will force the town to seek cooperation with nearby towns to develop environmental and economic solutions to its effects.

3. What do you believe Shutesbury residents value the most about their community?

We are a rural town of forests, wetlands, and pastures. A dirt Road-town, punctuated by intentional villages sharing a common vision, independent from surrounding cities. We have created the jobs and economic opportunities found at the ends of our dirt roads. I think we are the embodiment of Daniel Shays's social democracy.

4. Where do you see Shutesbury in 3 years? 10 years?

In the short term, at the crossroads of a new green economy. Where our homes become energy-independent hubs of rural innovation, residents who are examples of self-reliance and higher education creating uniquely skilled labor. In ten years, we’ll become the foundation of environmental resilience that will lead the world in surviving the ravages of global warming.  

5. Do you support economic diversity among Shutesbury residents?

I fear the divisiveness we currently tolerate will lead to ever more have-nots ruled by a privileged few. Only an inclusive representative government will build a town of equals. 

6. At the FinCom meeting of April 5, 2022, the Town Administrator (TA) accused you, as Tree Warden, of not doing your job because there was very little money spent from that position's expense account. Will you elaborate on this incident? I believe you were at the meeting earlier on behalf of the Conservation Committee but had left before this issue was raised.

I didn’t vote for the TA, the DeFacto mayor, no one did, I wasn’t aware it was a job for life. I have saved the town thousands of dollars by convincing National Grid to remove hazard trees and not spending the expense account. That’s called leadership and thankfully will pay for the removal of the current hazard trees at the fire station. In my opinion, the leaders we’ve placed in town hall have been the cause of every divisive issue this town has faced over the last decade due to poor decision sharing. 

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - Theatrical Trailer

Shutesbury Annual Town Meeting, May 21, behind town hall, promises to be very exciting this year. In addition to the contested Select Board seat, voters will be weighing in on a slew of new property tax exemptions, a revamped Town Buildings Committee charge, the replacement of the asphalt roof on the elementary school, and–this is a biggie–whether or not to fund the construction of a new library building. 

Please attend and make your voice heard! Every vote counts!