Newly elected TMMs - welcome

[ajfr...@aol.com]

It was such a pleasure meeting you this morning at the Moderator's meeting.  I'm sorry we didn't have time for me to run you through the "Newly Elected Town Meeting Member packets".

A couple of notes on this morning's meeting:

1)   To buttress what Mina and Christina were saying about articles vs. motions, we don't vote on the articles

        that came in the Warrant, we vote on the motions.  With respect to a motion, the Moderator determines

        what's within the scope of an article so that residents have been apprised through the Warrant what we're

        going to be voting on.

 

2)   Please don't forget to pick up your copies of the "Brown Book" in the lobby of the police station. 

        Last year TMMA surveyed the Town Meeting Members (TMMs) to see who wanted electronic vs. paper

        copies of the Brown Book, the LPS school budget book, the TMMA Warrant Information Report and other 

        board and committee reports.  Those who didn't respond to the survey received paper copies.  This year

        the survey was conducted by the Town and only those who stated they want paper copies will receive

        them.  However, being new TMMs they wanted you to get paper copies so you can familiarize yourselves.

 

With respect to the Newly Elected TMM packets, in non-Covid years you would have been given paper copies at the Moderator's meeting and we would have gone through the information.  What you received in PDF form this year includes:

 

1)   "Material for New Town Meeting Members", some are included in the handouts, you're pointed where to 

        find the other information.

 

2)   "New Town Meeting Member Information Sheet", describes expectations, what TMMA does, etc.

 

3)   "Summary of Parliamentary Procedures", this is important to read since this is how we conduct ourselves

        during TM.

 

4)   "Town Meeting Member Association Bylaws", delineates how TMMA operates, our structure and officer

        responsibilities.  With respect to precinct officers responsibilities, we need to rewrite the bylaws since 

        we're now using electronic voting devices.  In terms of precinct officers, yes, new TMM have been

        chosen as officers and are thus on the Executive Committee.  It's hoped that precinct officers attend 

        the monthly Executive Committee meetings and volunteer when we need help, e.g. working on articles

        when we're preparing the "TMMA Warrant Information Report.

 

5)   "Town Meeting in Lexington" is jointly prepared by TMMA and the League of Women Voters.  It has a 

        wealth of information about Lexington's Town Meeting - please read.

 

6)   "A Primer on Proposition 2 1/2" put out by the State Dept. of Revenue.  It's important to understand the 

        Levy Limits in terms of our financial constraints, please familiarize yourself with it.

 

7)   "The Selectmen - Town Manager Act" is provided since this spells out our form of local governance.

 

Again, it was a pleasure meeting this morning.  As Marc Saint Louis said, the TMMA website has a wealth of information at Lexington Town Meeting Members Association | Composite / Home Page browse

You've now been added to the TMMA email list so please check mail for notices.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or any of the Executive Committee members.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Andy Friedlich