Town Moderator is an elected position with a three-year term. There is no limit to how many terms can be served.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 39, Sections 14 & 15, provides the charge for the position. In Shutesbury, duties of the Town Moderator are:
- Conduct or moderate Town Meetings
Town Meeting Time describes the parliamentary procedures to be followed in both Annual and Special Town Meetings. The Moderator meets with the Selectboard to discuss the Warrant in advance of meetings to review logistics.
- Make appointments to Committees
The Moderator appoints seven members to the Finance Committee in staggered three-year terms and three members to the Personnel Board in staggered three-year terms.
- Conduct information sessions
Prior to Town Meetings, the Moderator conducts information sessions on the Warrant as requested by the Selectboard and conducts other information sessions on issues that arise town-wide as needed and as requested.
The Town Moderator should have knowledge of the general functions of small-town government and of parliamentary procedure. The Moderator's role is to be fair-minded in conducting meetings to ensure that discourse is respectful and that all voices are heard. In making appointments, the Moderator should be judicious in ensuring that there is balance and appropriate representation of Townspeople on the Committees.