TOWN MEETING

Business | Procedures | Special Meetings | Referendum

The Town Meeting has been the legislative body for Suffield since 1682. This unique and valuable form of government provides an opportunity for the individual elector or property owner to participate directly in town affairs. Those who may vote in Town Meetings are: 1) all residents who are registered voters, and 2) non-resident citizens over 18 who own real estate valued at $1000 or other property valued at $500 on the town tax list. These voters adopt the town budget, act on bond issues, adopt town ordinances, may appoint temporary committees, and conduct other business authorized by the Town Charter. The Annual Town meeting is the first Town Meeting held in each calendar year. The Charter requires that the Annual Town Report be reviewed at a Selectmen's hearing. The Annual Town Budget Meeting is held on or before the second Wednesday in May. This is where residents act on the budget for the following year.

Town Meeting Procedures

Town Meetings must be announced at least five days in advance by a legal advertisement in a newspaper and a copy posted in front of Town Hall specifying the business to be considered. No other business may come before the meeting (i.e., if a specific proposal is considered and voted down, a substitute proposal may not be considered at the same meeting). The voters select a Moderator to preside at the meeting which is conducted according to parliamentary procedure.

Special Town Meetings

The selectmen may call a special town meeting when matters arise which require immediate action by the voters.

Request for a Special Town Meeting may be made on the petition of not less than 2% of the registered electors of the Town. The Town Clerk has ten days to determine whether the signatures are valid. Upon receiving a certification of validity from the Town Clerk, the Board of Selectmen has thirty days to convene such a meeting providing the purpose stated in the petition is in accordance with the Charter Provisions.

Referendum

The Connecticut General Statutes Annotated specify that two hundred or more persons or 10% of the total number qualified to vote in a Town Meeting, whichever is less, may petition the clerk or secretary in writing at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, requesting that any item or items on the call be submitted to the voters not less than 7 nor more than 14 days thereafter for a vote by paper ballots or by a "yes" or "no" vote on voting machines. Special provisions in the Town Charter govern a referendum process following the Annual Town Budget Meeting.

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