Canton, MA Annual Town Meeting

Town Meeting is held at least once a year for the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meetings are called as needed.  Each item up for consideration is listed as an articles on a warrant. 

Articles are presented, debated openly, and then voted. Most votes are taken by voice or show of hands, or voter cards are used in close votes.

A Town Moderator presides over the meeting to ensure orderly discussion and adherence to procedure. 

Boards such as the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee make recommendations on articles, but they do not make final decisions. Their role is advisory.

The final authority rests with the voters in the room.

Canton uses an Open Town Meeting form of government, which means that local legislative decisions are made directly by residents, not by a town board or committee.

Any registered voter in Canton can attend Town Meeting. Voters have the right to:

• Speak on articles 
• Ask questions 
• Make motions 
• Vote on decisions that affect the town

There is no separate group of elected legislators — the residents are the legislators. 

Town Meeting is responsible for voting on:

• The annual operating budget, including schools, police, fire, DPW, and town services 
• Capital expenditures such as buildings, roads, and major equipment 
• Bylaws and zoning changes 
• Tax-related matters, including debt exclusions and overrides 
• How certain special funds and district improvement funds are used

Town Meeting works best when there's broad resident participation. When turnout is low, decisions can be made by a small number of people, even though those decisions affect everyone. Whether the topic is schools, roads, taxes, or long-term planning, Town Meeting is where Canton’s most important conversations and decisions happen.

View current and past warrant articles with the Finance Committee recommendations here. 

• Annual Town Meeting (business) is held on the second Monday of May at 7:00 PM, typically at Morse Auditorium or another location designated by the Select Board.
• Annual Town Election (ballot voting) is separate and held in April.
• Special Town Meetings may be called as needed.

• Town Meeting must be warned by posting the warrant at least 21 days in advance in multiple public locations.
• The Constable must certify service of the warrant and return it to the Town Clerk.
• If the meeting is adjourned, notice of the adjournment must be publicly posted.

• Select Board may place articles directly.
• Any elected or appointed board may request articles.
• Citizen petitions require 10 registered voters.
• Zoning articles must be filed at least 120 days before Town Meeting and go through Planning Board hearings.
• Non-zoning articles also close 120 days before the meeting.

All articles must include:

• A written explanation
• Supporting data, plans, and cost estimates
  Incomplete articles may be rejected.

• A final warrant must be issued at least 60 days before Town Meeting.
• A Finance Committee report explaining and recommending action on articles must be:
  • Posted online
  • Mailed or delivered to every household with a registered voter
  • Available at least 14 days before Town Meeting

Town Meeting must proceed in this order:

1. Elect a Moderator
2. Adopt rules of procedure
3. Hear committee reports
4. Hear report on the Town’s fiscal condition
5. Act on the Consent Calendar
6. Take remaining articles by lottery order

Budget and spending articles must be acted on before the general appropriation (operating budget).

• Only registered voters may be on the Town Meeting floor.
• Others may attend only with Moderator permission.
• Speakers must:
  • Be recognized by the Moderator
  • Address remarks to the Chair
  • Stay on topic and avoid personal attacks

• A voter may speak:
  • No more than 10 minutes at a time
  • No more than twice on the same article, except to correct errors
• Debate can be:
  • Time-limited by vote
  • Ended by a 2/3 vote to “move the previous question”

The Moderator:

• Preserves order and decorum
• Rules on all procedural questions
• Controls speaking order
• Determines article sequencing when legally required
• Uses Town Meeting Time (Massachusetts Moderators Association) as the parliamentary guide
• May be appealed by Town Meeting vote

• Non-controversial articles may be grouped and voted together.
• Any voter may “hold” an article, removing it for individual debate.
• Adoption must be unanimous or all articles revert to individual consideration.

• Amendments or substitute motions:
  • Must be submitted in writing
  • If 30+ words, must be copied and distributed before the vote
• Debate is limited strictly to the amendment until resolved.

Voting proceeds in this order:

1. Voice vote
2. Show of hands
3. Standing vote (counted by tellers)

• 7 voters may challenge the Moderator’s declaration, forcing a counted vote.
• Required supermajority votes (2/3, 4/5, 9/10) are recorded.
• Written ballots may be required by:
  • Moderator decision, or
  • Majority vote of Town Meeting (with a mandatory delay)

• Final votes may only be reconsidered by:
  • 2/3 vote
  • With 36 weekday hours’ notice
• Reconsideration appears as the first business at the next session.

• Votes do not take effect until Town Meeting dissolves,
  unless declared an emergency by a 2/3 vote, allowing immediate effect.

• Labor contracts must be:
  • Filed publicly 45 days before Town Meeting
  • Posted visibly during the meeting
  • Certified as properly disclosed before being voted

• Multiple tellers are assigned by seating area.
• Doors may be closed during tallies.
• Votes are recorded as Ayes first, Nays second.