§ 45-3-1. Periodic elective meetings. A town meeting shall be held annually or biennially as required by law in each town, for the election of those town officers as are required by law. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch 37, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 47, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 48, § 1; G.L. 1938, […]
§ 45-3-10. Meeting to elect clerk to fill vacancy. Whenever any town clerk is removed by death or otherwise, and the town council under §§ 45-4-16 and 45-5-6 fails to act to fill the vacancy, the town treasurer of the town shall issue his or her warrant to warn the electors to assemble in town […]
§ 45-3-11. Forfeiture for neglect of duty by officers. Every town clerk or town treasurer who neglects or refuses to issue a warrant as provided in § 45-3-8, and every town sergeant or constable who neglects or refuses to serve the warrant as provided in § 45-3-8,, shall forfeit for each neglect fifty dollars ($50.00); […]
§ 45-3-12. Notice of meeting to dispose of land or make tax. No vote shall be passed in any town meeting concerning the disposing of the town’s land or making a tax, unless special mention is made, and notice of the meeting given, in the warrant issued for the warning of the meeting; and the […]
§ 45-3-13. Canvass prior to meeting. Prior to any town meeting prescribed by law or called by request as provided by § 45-3-6, the list of the electors qualified to vote in town meetings shall be made out and canvassed in the same manner as provided by law with respect to elective town meetings. History […]
§ 45-3-14. Quorum. Whenever the inhabitants of any town do not exceed three thousand (3,000) by the last census, whether national or state, preceding the holding of a town meeting, seven (7) electors at least shall be necessary to constitute a legal town meeting; and whenever the inhabitants of any town exceed that number, fifteen […]
§ 45-3-15. Selection of moderator. At the annual or biennial town meeting of each town, there shall be chosen a moderator to preside in all the town meetings until the moderator’s successor is elected and qualified. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 48, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 49, § […]
§ 45-3-16. Term of moderator and clerk. The term of office of the elected moderator and clerk commences at the first regular meeting held for the election of officers, and continues until their successors are elected and qualified, unless otherwise provided by law. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, § 7; G.L. 1909, ch. 48, […]
§ 45-3-17. Moderator to preside. In all meetings of the electors or voters in a town, representative district, or voting district, the moderator of the meeting shall preside. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, § 8; G.L. 1909, ch. 48, § 9; P.L. 1910, ch. 640, § 37; G.L. 1923, ch. 49, § 8; G.L. […]
§ 45-3-18. Regulation of meeting by moderator. Every moderator has the power to manage and regulate the business of each meeting, conforming to law, and to maintain peace and good order at the meeting. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, § 11; G.L. 1909, ch. 48, § 12; G.L. 1923, ch. 49, § 11; G.L. […]
§ 45-3-19. Disorderly conduct at meeting. If any person conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner in any town, representative district, or voting district meeting, the moderator may order that person to withdraw from the meeting; and, on the person’s refusal, may order the town sergeant, or any town constable present, or any other […]
§ 45-3-2. Time of elective meetings. Town meetings shall be held at the time as is by law or vote provided, unless otherwise directed. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 37, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 47, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 48, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 330, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 45-3-2.
§ 45-3-20. Voting on motions. The moderator of every town meeting shall, on a motion being made and seconded, relative to any business regularly before the meeting, after having heard all the electors entitled to vote on the motion who desire to be heard, cause the votes of the electors present to be taken on […]
§ 45-3-21. Majority required for action. All questions relating to town affairs, excepting elections, shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the electors present entitled to vote on the question. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, § 15; G.L. 1909, ch. 48, § 16; G.L. 1923, ch. 49, § 15; G.L. 1938, […]
§ 45-3-22. Record of proceedings as evidence — Certificate of clerk. A copy of the record of the proceedings of any town meeting, certified by the town clerk, is evidence of any act or vote of the town in town meeting assembled, and the certificate of the town clerk that no town meeting was held […]
§ 45-3-23. Compensation of district moderators and clerks. The moderators and clerks of voting districts and representative districts in all cities and towns shall severally receive as compensation for their services the minimum sum of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per day. History of Section.G.L. 1909, ch. 48, § 19; P.L. 1919, ch. 1776, § 1; G.L. […]
§ 45-3-24. Application to voting machine meetings. The provisions of §§ 45-3-14 — 45-3-23, govern elective meetings held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 19 of title 17, if and so far as they are applicable, and not inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 19 of title 17. History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 38, […]
§ 45-3-25. Voting machines for municipal budget referenda. (a) At the request of the council of a city or town, the board of elections shall furnish a sufficient number of voting machines for use in connection with votes taken at any municipal budget referenda. Any request shall be made to the board of elections not […]
§ 45-3-26. Town meetings to be open. All town meetings are open to the public, including representatives of the press and news media; provided, that, in the event that there are space constraints, voters shall be admitted to the meetings before non-voters. Non-voters may be seated or assigned to a separate area as indicated by […]
§ 45-3-3. Adjournment to complete election of officers. If, on the day of the town meeting for the election of town officers, any town fails to make an election of town clerk, town council, or town treasurer, the meeting may be adjourned for the purpose of completing the election of those officers, but of no […]
