Statement of Town Moderator John Murphy, Town Clerk Susan Duplin, and Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto Regarding the March 6, 2023 Special Town Meeting
Statement of Town Moderator John Murphy, Town Clerk Susan Duplin, and Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto Regarding the March 6, 2023 Special Town Meeting
We are grateful to the 713 registered voters, and others, who attended last night’s Special Town Meeting to consider a Citizens’ Petition to amend Chapter 25 – Assessments of the Code of North Reading. This was one of the largest Town Meetings since 2013.
As the attendees know, there was confusion within the room at the end of the meeting. Debate was occurring on a motion to approve the Citizens’ Petition article, and a motion was made to “move the question”. The motion to “move the question” was approved on a voice vote. Attendees began to leave the meeting and a motion to adjourn was offered at 8:10 PM but not voted upon. A point of order was then raised that the motion to approve the Citizens’ Petition had not been voted upon. A further point of order was raised that the motion to approve the Citizens’ Petition required a second and a second was offered, however a second is not generally offered or required at North Reading Town Meeting. A vote was taken on the motion to approve the Citizens’ Petition article and it carried on a voice vote. The Town Moderator then declared Town Meeting adjourned and attendees left the room at 8:12 PM.
We have conferred with Town Counsel and while a voice vote is generally taken on a motion to adjourn, pursuant to general principles of parliamentary law the Moderator may declare the meeting adjourned when the business is concluded and it is apparent from the actions of those present that there is unanimous consent. Last night, upon the Moderator’s declaration that the meeting was adjourned, attendees filed out of the room, and the Special Town Meeting was adjourned sine die (officially closed without providing a further date). The Town Clerk will submit the approved bylaw to the Attorney General as required under state law. The Attorney General has 90 days to approve or disapprove of the bylaw, and the Town Clerk will publish notice of the Attorney General’s actions upon receipt.