Town Government Structure

Section 1: Town Meeting
Section 2: Calling the Annual and Special Town Meetings
Section 3: Town Warrant
Section 4: Elections
Section 5: Who can Vote?
Section 6: Town Boards and Committees
Section 7: Other Town Government Positions
Section 8: Meetings and Hearings
Section 9: Serving in Town Government
Section 10: Bringing Your Concerns to Boards, Committees, and Commissions
Section 11: Appealing Decisions, Seeking Waivers, etc.
Section 12: Get Involved
 
 
1: Town Meeting
As many have observed, Town Meeting is one of the purest forms of democracy. It is here, at this annual event—as well as at any additional Special Town Meetings that might be called in any given year—that each registered voter has his or her direct say in major public affairs. In Plympton, every voter can stand up and try to persuade others to see issues his or her way. When the time for a critical Town Meeting decision arrives, each voter directly represents him or herself. The power of this undiluted representation becomes apparent during particularly close decisions.
During the 2002 Annual Town Meeting, for example, one vote stood between proponents and opponents of a move to hire a new Town Coordinator. The measure to do so ended in a tie. Such close votes on are not uncommon.
Issues at Town Meeting can vary, but they include the passage of the annual budget, as well as other fiscal matters, which are decided by a simple majority vote. Although Finance Committee brings recommendations for the budget, which it has based on individual departmental requests and expected Town income, it is the voters who decide, line item by line item, whether to accept each figure or amend it in some way. Thus, voters—not elected officials—directly make key budgetary decisions.
Other concerns for Town Meeting include making changes to the Municipal Bylaws and the Zoning Bylaws of the Town.
 
 
2: Calling the Annual and Special Town Meetings
As set forth in the Town’s Municipal Bylaws, Plympton’s Annual Town Meeting is held on the Wednesday prior to the annual (ballot) elections. The Bylaws stipulate that the elections take place on the third Saturday in May. The Annual Town Meeting takes place on the preceding Wednesday. Frequently a two-or-more night event, the Annual Town Meeting will run for as long as necessary to address all of the issues, or Articles, on the Warrant.
In addition, Special Town Meetings can be called during the year. Most often, the Board of Selectmen calls a Special Town Meeting, but citizens also have this power. All it takes is a written request, properly submitted, with the signatures of 200 registered voters (or 20% of the total number of voters in Town, whichever is less). A Special Town Meeting called in this manner must occur no later than 45 days after receipt of said request. Also of note is the Town Clerk’s unique power to call a Special Town Meeting in the event that the Board of Selectmen is unable to do so (perhaps due to some emergency).
 
 
3: Town Warrant
The Town Warrant is the listing of all of the items, or Articles, that Town Meeting will discuss and decide (by vote). All matters voted upon at the Town Meeting must have been properly posted and included in the Town Warrant. Otherwise, the Commonwealth's Attorney General's office will strike them, and they will not become local law.
The Warrant is published and sent to voters by 7 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting, and 14 days prior to a Special Town Meeting. (Town Warrants will soon be available on this Web site.)
Although Town Boards and Committees most frequently sponsor the Articles, citizens have the power to forward their own. For the Annual Town Meeting, 10 registered voters need to submit a written request to the Board of Selectmen that an article be inserted in the Warrant; in the case of Special Town Meetings, the request must come from 100 registered voters. The Town Clerk's office or the Board of Selectmen can provide additional details. Because voters have the right to submit their issues to Town Meetings, the Town Warrant reflects another important opportunity for citizen participation in the governance of the Town.
 
 
4: Elections
Overseen by the Town Clerk's office, the annual ballot election—technically a part of the Town Meeting—is a familiar avenue for citizen expression. The Municipal Bylaws stipulate that this election will take place on the third Saturday of May, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
During such elections, Board, Committee, and many other officials are voted into office. In addition, any Town Meeting items also requiring a ballot approval (such as a Proposition 2-1/2 override) are also decided in this election.
Sometimes, the ballot election might fail to enact measures passed at Town Meeting. This might happen if voters at Town Meeting do not cast ballots in the election. In addition, voters who were not present for the relevant Town Meeting vote might cast ballots that result in an outcome that contradicts the Town Meeting decision.
Town Meeting might also vote to reject an Article that appears on the ballot. In some cases, Town Meeting passes over (decides not to vote on) an issue that will appear on the ballot. In both of these circumstances, the ballot results are moot.
In addition to the annual elections, primary and state elections take place on evenly numbered years.
 
 
5: Who Can Vote?
Any duly registered voter can vote in the Town Meetings or the elections. Currently, about 1800 Plymptonians are registered. Citizens (over 18 years of age) can register through the mail, in person at the Town Clerk's office, or at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. In order to vote in any specific election or Annual Town Meeting, a person must register at least 20 days prior to the event; for Special Town Meetings, only 10 days’ time is required.
Once registered, a voter must return the annual street census promptly to avoid being put on the “inactive” list; by state law, four consecutive years on this list disqualifies a voter unless she or he registers again.
 
 
6: Town Boards and Committees
In between the Town Meetings, somebody needs to make the day-to-day decisions of governance, uphold regulations, and help prepare for the future. These duties are delegated, through the Town's Bylaws, to a variety of different Boards.
Most officers on these Boards are not specifically trained for their work. Instead, most volunteer (or accept a small stipend for) their time and efforts to attend to the Town's interests. New and veteran members grow on the job, using state documents, other members, and affiliations with relevant organizations as resources.
Perhaps the most visible official group is the elected Board of Selectmen. People may liken this board to a mayor or CEO. In reality, however, this Board is relatively limited in its powers: Perhaps surprisingly, it does not have direct authority over many of the other decision-making groups in the Town government. Effective Town-wide governance, then, relies on the willingness and ability of the different agencies to communicate and collaborate with one another.
Beyond the Selectmen, there are other groups, such as the Finance Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, and Planning Board. Further information about these—and other—groups' responsibilities and powers are included elsewhere on this site.
The public has a right to know what the officers are saying and doing about the Town’s interests. All Boards, Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces are required to hold open meetings. For more information, see Meetings and Hearings.
 
 
7: Other Town Government Positions
In addition to the groups of decision-making bodies, there are also administrators who are elected or appointed, as well as staff positions. For example, the Building Inspector and Town Clerk are elected officials who serve independently of a specific Board or Committee; and the Board of Assessors hires a clerk, or secretary, to take care of documentation, among other duties. Some of these positions are paid, whereas others are not.
 
 
8: Meetings and Hearings
In general, all meetings and hearings of all Boards, Committees, and Commissions are open to the public. State law requires that no deliberations or decisions of a quorum of any agency take place in private. This maximizes citizens’ access to the processes and discussions that affect the Town. However, under strictly defined circumstances, a meeting may be closed (go into Executive Session).
Most often, groups have meetings (not hearings). Official, legal postings of these meetings must be made through the Town Clerk's office, no fewer than 2 days (48 hours) prior to the set time. Meetings are posted on the bulletin board at Town House. Often, unofficial information about meetings will also appear on this Web site.
Hearings are more formal affairs. Typically, they relate to decisions of greater scope and potential impact than meetings. Because the purpose of hearings is to gather information and opinion from the public, they, like meetings are generally open affairs, by law. In fact, compared to meeting postings, hearing announcements must be posted with more advance notice and in additional public arenas (for example, in a newspaper).
 
 
9: Serving in Town Government
In addition to voting, there are numerous opportunities to get actively involved in Town government. Plympton citizens serve on over forty boards and committees, and there are frequent openings. Officers are either appointed or elected.
The first step towards appointment is for a resident to notify the Board of Selectmen that he or she is interested in filling an open position. In addition to the regularly appointed positions, individual elected seats may be filled by appointment until the next election.
To serve in an elected seat, any interested, registered voter may run for office. To have his or her name posted on the election ballot, the candidate must, according to law, submit a nomination form, available at the Town Clerk's office, signed by “not less than 20 registered voters.” (The Clerk generally suggests additional signatures to avoid problems with signatures that might not be verifiable.)
Voters may also write in the name and address of a (registered voter) person (or affix a sticker with the appropriate information clearly legible) whom they would like to elect, who is not listed on the ballot. To serve in office, the person must be a registered voter.
 
 
10: Bringing Your Concerns to Boards, Committees, and Commissions
If you have an issue you would like to bring before a governmental group, you should contact the group directly. While some groups accept walk-in business, it is generally a good idea to get on the agenda in advance of a meeting. You can check the relevant group’s contact information on this Web site for contact and general meeting information.
 
 
11: Appealing Decisions, Seeking Waivers, etc.
From time to time, residents or businesspersons in Town may find they disagree with a decision made by a given government entity. In some cases, the party may appeal the decision through the decision-making body. In other cases, the body can direct the parties to the appropriate appeal agency. For example, some appeals are referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
 
 
12: Get Involved
Please consider getting involved! As a small town, Plympton is unique in its many opportunities for individuals to influence the outcomes of important Town decisions. This is perhaps its greatest strength--and its greatest weakness.
As lives become ever busier, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to participate actively in governing their own town. With every unfilled seat or uncast vote, Plympton is deprived of the benefits of participatory government. Opportunities for planning, making decisions, and governing efficiently may slip away. Thus, even in this busy time, it is important for citizens to commit to some form of involvement, whenever possible.
Please contact the Board of Selectmen to get involved in your government!