Annual Town Meeting Jim Bélanger Moderator

General Rules  Moderator Suggests Operating Rules MUST be adopted every year. Adopted by consensus.  Voters may over-rule moderator any time How? Speak out Loud/Clear from anywhere! “Point of Order” or “I wish to challenge the Moderator”  Roberts Rules are used ONLY as a guide  Format of meeting subject to change.

 Pro & Con to be heard on all articles  Address (and look at) the Moderator  Announce your name so Clerk can record it!  Speak once until others have spoken  Speak only at Microphone  Money amendments in dollars  One motion/amendment at a time 10 words or less – verbal Otherwise – in writing

 General Comments – Keep to 2 minutes please  3 minutes MAX! Time Determined by Moderator Only ! Organized rebuttals – By prior arrangement only  Questions should clearly be questions  Stay at microphone for an answer  No negative motions

 If you’ve heard enough & feel it’s time to vote.  Stand in line at the public microphone  Make your motion “I call the question”  No speeches before making the motion  Moderator will call for a vote – 2/3 needed  People in line behind you may not speak Moving the Question

No Debate Motions Motion Type  Table a motion  Take from the table  Reconsider a question  Limit Reconsideration  Recess or Adjourn  Limit or Extend debate  Call the question To Pass  Maj.  2/3

Secret Ballot Votes & Recounts  Signed by 5 voters present RSA 40:4A  Recount of secret ballot. Requested by 5 voters immediately after results announced and results had to be within 10% of total votes cast.  Challenge of any voice vote 7 or more voters (standing vote OK)

Voting Card & Secret Ballot  Please print your name on your voting card – This will expedite any secret ballot voting and protect your card from loss  Secret Ballot requests apply only to the main motion.  Secret Ballot for amendments need to be made separately.

Budget Amendments  Municipal Budget Act Town 10% limit as explained by Budget Comm.  Amending bottom line is binding but does not affect budget line items unless zero’d.  Make amendments in dollars, not in %.

Limit Reconsideration  Motion can be made at any time Requires a second. Majority.  Should not be made needlessly  Example of when it’s bad move  If later there arises a need to reconsider (perhaps due to 10% rule) limited questions are out.

THE END THE END  Without Objection from the floor we will adopt these rules for the conduct of our meeting, subject to change.