Rules of the Road: Q+A With Groton Town Moderator, Jason Kauppi

With Town Meeting on Monday night, I'd like to share some of the questions frequently asked of me, as moderator, in the past two months. In the interest of space, I provide brief answers, and any voter who wants more information or to make a motion at Town Meeting should contact me directly at moderator@townofgroton.org or at 617-489-0077.

Q: Who decides if a vote is by secret ballot?

A: All votes are by voice vote, unless the meeting or the moderator decides otherwise. When called on by the moderator to speak, a voter may say something like "I move that the vote on the pending motion be taken by secret ballot." It requires a second and a majority vote to pass. The meeting may debate the question of a secret ballot. If the secret-ballot motion fails, the main motion will be voted on by voice vote.

Q: How long will it take to conduct a secret ballot?

A: The best guess is about one hour, but it has been perhaps decades since Groton Town Meeting has had one. Voters will be called to the front of the auditorium to check in with the clerks and cast a ballot. The voting machine will record and count the ballots.

Q: Is Question 4 properly before Town Meeting?

A: Question 4 asks the meeting to advise the Board of Selectmen whether to renew the town manager's contract. Voters should understand the article is advisory only and not binding upon the selectmen.

The Board of Selectmen, as the executive branch of town government, has the authority to hire and fire a town manager. The Town Meeting, as the legislative branch, has no managerial authority over town personnel and cannot compel action by the selectmen.

For example, Town Meeting may authorize the selectmen to spend or borrow money, or to sell property. However, it cannot require them to do so.

The citizens who collected the 10 voter signatures and filed the article with the Board of Selectmen followed the procedures in the Town Charter. From a procedural stand point, the article is properly on the warrant and will come before Town Meeting.

Q: Can you limit debate?

A: A motion to limit how long a person may speak can be made in the beginning of the meeting and apply to the entire meeting, or it can be applied to a particular main motion. It requires a two-thirds majority vote because it restricts speech and is not debatable. Anyone wishing to make this motion should speak to me before the meeting.

The other motion that limits debate is a motion to move the question. This motion simply asks the meeting to vote on whether debate should end or continue. It requires a two-thirds majority.

Do not attempt to make this motion before any debate begins or there has been a reasonable amount of debate, as determined by the moderator. Also, it is out of order to speak for or against a motion and then try to move the question because the affect is to give yourself the last word.

Another limit on debate is what may or may not be said. Debate should focus only on the motion on the floor. Debate should discuss the pros and cons of the proposed action, and should not focus on the motives of individuals on either side of the issue.

Debate should be civil, courteous and free of foul language. When addressing the meeting, the speaker should direct his comments to the moderator and not to any other individual. Avoid referring to anyone by name or in the second person (i.e. "I don't agree with you.").

A speaker may ask questions, but may not demand an answer from any individual. Questions should be directed to the moderator, and the moderator will recognize anyone volunteering an answer. Cross-examination is not allowed.

These rules, followed in Congress and state legislatures, are helpful in maintaining decorum and are reasonable restraints for professional lawmakers. We are less strict at Town Meeting where we are all citizen legislators, but the moderator can insist upon them to calm the meeting.

Q: Why are Town Meetings so long?

A: The vast majority of a Town Meeting is spent debating. Individuals presenting main motions and the primary opponents are being asked to keep remarks to about 5 minutes. The moderator may also interrupt anyone who speaks longer than that or who is repeating previously stated information. Restraint and brevity by the individuals speaking at Town Meeting are the best defense against lengthy meetings.

The warrant for the meeting, set by the Board of Selectmen per their authority under state law, contains 41 articles. Voters can expect the meeting to start Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m., and then to adjourn to the following Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Whether a third night is required will be largely up to the voters.