Glossary of Terms Used at Town Meetings

Glossary of Terms


AVAILABLE FUNDS:
Often referred to as FREE CASH. A fund certified annually by the State Bureau of Accounts by deducting from Surplus Revenue all uncollected taxes for prior years. This fund may be used by vote at the Town Meeting.

OVERLAY:
The Overlay is the amount used by the Assessors in excess of appropriations and other charges for the purpose of creating a fund to cover abatements granted and avoiding fractions.

RESERVE FUND:
This fund is established by the voters at an Annual Town Meeting only and may be composed of (a) an appropriation (not exceeding 5 percent of the tax levy of the preceding year); (b) money transferred from Overlay Reserve; or (c) both. Transfers from the Reserve Fund are within the exclusive control of the Finance Committee and are extraordinary and unforeseen expenditures.

CHERRY SHEET:
A summary of the State and County financial charges and reimbursements to the Town as certified by the State Director of Accounts; so called because the paper is cherry red.

STABILIZATION FUND:
This money (not to exceed 10 percent of the amount raised in the preceding year by taxation) set aside in interest bearing accounts for future capital outlay expenditures, e.g., buildings or remodeling of Town buildings. Total accumulated Fund shall not exceed 10 percent of valuation.


Guide to Procedure at Town Meeting


From the Town Moderator:
"Procedure at Town Meetings shall be governed by the general rules of parliamentary procedure, except as modified by law..." (Art. 11, Sec. 4: Code of By-Laws). It is hoped that this checklist will provide a guide for our meeting and perhaps eliminate some of the mystery surrounding parliamentary procedure.

TO VOTE:

  1. Be checked off voting list.
  2. Sit in voting section of the hall.
  3. Signal in prescribed way.

TO QUESTION VOTE:

  1. Stand, be recognized, question with at least seven (7) other voters.

TO REQUEST SECRET VOTE:

  1. Be recognized, make motion.
  2. Seconded.
  3. Majority vote.
  4. Only allowed on appropriations (money articles).

TO MAKE A MOTION:

  1. Be recognized, state name and address.
  2. Must conform to article under discussion.
  3. Must be in writing (presented to the Moderator).
  4. Seconded and debated.
  5. Voted by majority.

TO SECOND:

  1. Call out "I second the motion."

TO AMEND:

  1. Be recognized.
  2. Make motion (also present in writing to Moderator).
  3. Seconded, amendment debated.
  4. Voted by majority.
  5. Only two (2) amendments per main motion.

TO STOP DEBATE FOR VOTE:

  1. Be recognized, state "I move the previous question."
  2. Seconded, no debate.
  3. Voted by 2/3 majority.

TO RECONSIDER:

  1. Anyone may make motion.
  2. Be recognized, make motion.
  3. Seconded and debated.
  4. Made no later than one (1) hour after final vote.
  5. Voted by 2/3 majority.

TO QUESTION DECORUM OF MEETING:

  1. Rise and state "Point of Order."
  2. Moderator rules on point.

TO TAKE AN ARTICLE OUT OF ORDER:

  1. Be recognized, make motion.
  2. Seconded, debated.
  3. Voted by 4/5 majority.

TO ADJOURN:

  1. Be recognized, make motion.
  2. Seconded, no debate.
  3. Voted by majority.