Moderator By-Law in October Town Meeting Warrant

Holliston’s current By-Law for Town Moderator, shown below in red, describes in one sentence the barest amount of information about the role of Town Moderator possible.

Current By-law: Article VII Town Moderator

Section 1.  The Town shall have a Moderator who shall be elected for a term of three (3) years.   The Town Moderator shall serve as Moderator of all Town Meetings, except as otherwise provided by law.

Article 11 provides a more expanded description of the primary responsibilities of the Town Moderator based on state law. No additional duties are provided, but the Article does provide for additional duties as may be authorized by By-Law or vote of Town Meeting. The Article 11 revised By-Law for Town Moderator has been endorsed by Holliston’s current Moderator.

Holliston’s Town Moderator does exercise the responsibility to preside at all Town Meetings to ensure the proceedings run smoothly and efficiently and is also involved in the preparation for Town Meeting.  As important as this role is in town government, Holliston is somewhat unique in that the Town Moderator is not authorized to exercise any additional responsibilities.

Article 11:

Article VII Town Moderator

Section 1 Term and Duties

• Term – There shall be a Town Moderator elected for a term of three (3) years.
• Powers and Duties – The Town Moderator shall preside at all sessions of the Town Meeting.  In the event of the absence or disability of the Moderator, the Town Meeting shall elect from those voters present at the Town Meeting a temporary Moderator to act during such absence or disability.  The Town Moderator shall have all the powers and duties given to Moderators under the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth.  The Town Moderator, at all Town Meetings, shall regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, make public declarations of all votes and may exercise such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by General Law, by By-Law or by other vote of the Town Meeting. The Town Moderator shall not hold any other town office, elected or appointed.

Stay tuned for additional updates from the Governance Committee relative to Article 11 on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant.