Article 61: To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 1-80-060 of the Town Code of the Town of Northborough by striking the language requiring the Moderator to read the return of service of the warrant and to read the warrant unless dispensed with by vote of the Meeting, so that said section shall read as follows:
“The Moderator shall call the Meeting to order, shall announce the number constituting the quorum and shall determine the existence of a quorum. In the absence of the Deputy Moderator, the Meeting shall be called to order by the Town Clerk, who shall preside until a Temporary Moderator is chosen. The Temporary Moderator shall act during the absence of the Moderator and Deputy Moderator.”
or take any other action relative thereto.
Explanation: This article amends the Town Code by removing the requirement that the Moderator read the return of service of the warrant and read the warrant aloud at the start of Town Meeting unless waived by vote. The proposed change streamlines the opening procedures of Town Meeting while maintaining all other responsibilities of the Moderator, including calling the Meeting to order and confirming the existence of a quorum. This amendment is intended to improve efficiency while preserving orderly conduct of the Meeting.
Votes Needed to Pass: Majority
Current Text of Section 1-80-060 of the Town Code: The Moderator shall call the Meeting to order, shall announce the number constituting the quorum and shall determine the existence of a quorum. The Moderator shall then read the return of the person who served the warrant for the Meeting and shall then read the warrant unless the Meeting votes that the reading of the articles in the warrant be dispensed with. In the absence of the Deputy Moderator, the Meeting shall be called to order by the Town Clerk, who shall preside until a Temporary Moderator is chosen. The Temporary Moderator shall act during the absence of the Moderator and Deputy Moderator.