Massachusetts law about town meetings | Mass.gov
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This page from the Massachusetts Court System's Law Library provides an informational guide to Massachusetts town meeting law, including relevant statutes, court cases, and procedural resources. Key legal references include Massachusetts Constitution Amendment LXXXIX (distinguishing cities and towns), General Laws chapters 39 and 43A (municipal government), and the 2023 case Barron v. Kolenda, which established that towns cannot restrict participants from being "rude" at meetings. The resource directs users to procedural guides like Robert's Rules of Order and Town Meeting Time, as well as individual town meeting guides and citizens' petition procedures.
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THIS PAGE, MASSACHUSETTS LAW ABOUT TOWN MEETINGS, IS OFFERED BY Trial Court Law Libraries Massachusetts Court System THIS IS A PART OF THE LAW LIBRARY : Massachusetts law about cities and towns + Massachusetts law about town meetings Laws, rules, and web sources on Massachusetts town meeting law. If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, or if you have a specific question, please contact our law librarians for assistance. Skip table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Best bet Massachusetts laws Selected cases Rules of procedure Town meeting guides Web sources Contact Best bet Citizen's guide to town meetings, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2024. "This booklet outlines the forms and procedures used in Massachusetts Town Meetings." Includes procedures and frequently asked questions such as who may speak, types of town meetings and other topics. Massachusetts laws Massachusetts Constitution, Amendment LXXXIX Draws the distinction between cities and towns, and allows for home-rule charters. MGL c. 39 Municipal government MGL c. 43A Standard form of representative town meeting government Selected cases Barron v. Kolenda, 491 Mass. 408 (2023) A town's rule for public participation at meetings (a rule requiring that all comments be respectful, polite, and free of rude or personal attacks) violates people's rights. Massachusetts protects the right to be ‘rude’ in town meetings The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law provides a synopsis of the case. Rules of procedure Most Massachusetts town meetings use one or both of the following: Robert's Rules of Order Official site with ordering information as well as frequently asked questions about the rules 1915 edition (online via the Internet Archive) 2020 edition (print, available through the law libraries) Roberts Rules in plain English 2005 edition (print, available through the law libraries) "Abbreviated essential parliamentary rules condensed from Robert's Rules of order newly revised." Roberts Rules of Order in the courts 1994 edition (print, available through the law libraries) Provides citations to court cases about the rules. Town Meeting Time Mass. Moderators Association, ordering information for the latest edition 2001 edition (print, available through the law libraries) Town meeting guides Meeting guides Many towns have their own extensive guides to town meeting with FAQs, glossaries, and decision tables. Check with your town or refer to one of the example guides listed below. Concord: Provides an explanation of the open town meeting process Lexington: Provides an explanation of how a representative town meeting works, and how it differs from an open town meeting Ayer Brookline Provincetown Wenham Westford Citizens' petitions guides Citizens can petition their town to have an item added to meeting agenda. Check with your town or refer to one of the examples listed below for more information. Grafton Hamilton Hingham Hull Lexington Lincoln Sterling Weston Web sources Massachusetts Moderators Association Provides information for both moderators and the general public, including informational videos and downloadable materials. Updated guidance on holding meetings pursuant to the Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures, Mass. Attorney General, regarding St. 2025, c. 2, which extended the temporary provisions regarding remote and hybrid meetings in COVID-19 Order #1 to June 30, 2027. Contact Trial Court Law Libraries + LAST UPDATED: September 29, 2025 CONTACT Trial Court Law Libraries Online Library locations and phone numbers Chat with a law librarian online Email a reference librarian: Email Trial Court Law Libraries at lawlibraries@jud.state.ma.us RELATED Massachusetts city & town ordinances and bylaws Massachusetts law about elections and voting Massachusetts law about open meetings Ask a Law Librarian Chat or text with a law librarian Request documents from the law libraries THIS IS PART OF: Massachusetts law about cities and towns Title 5 Zoning Help Us Improve Mass.gov with your feedback Did you find what you were looking for on this webpage? Yes No
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This document outlines Boston's procedures for posting public meeting notices in compliance with Massachusetts' Open Meeting Law. Public bodies must provide notice within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) before meetings, and notices must include the date, time, place, and expected agenda items. Notices should be submitted to publicnotice@boston.gov at least 48 hours in advance, and the city provides accommodations for people with disabilities upon request to the Disabilities Commission.
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