Shutesbury's legislative branch is open town meeting, a form of direct democracy in which registered voters come together in person to be heard, to debate, and to vote on policy decisions affecting the Town.
Shutesbury's Annual Town Meeting is to be held on the second Saturday in May, and the election of Town officials is held at that time. Voting By Mail is allowed in electing Town officials but not for matters on the warrant for Town Meeting
The Annual Town Meeting has three chief functions:
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to appropriate money for operational costs
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to act on policies and bylaws brought forth by committees or boards
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to hear reports from Town officials, committees, boards, and departments
The Select Board may schedule a Special Town Meeting as needed during the year, and the meeting will be duly posted and publicized throughout town.
Annual and Special Town Meetings are presided over by the Town Moderator, using the Massachusetts Moderators Association's Town Meeting Time as the guide for parliamentary procedures. The practical/formal terms of conducting a Town Meeting can be found here and in the Shutesbury Citizen's Guide to Town Meeting. An information sheet on voting with clickers can be found here.
