Town of Wenham, Massachusetts

Annual Town Meeting
Saturday, July 11, 2020, 9:00am
Pingree Park, 211 Main Street

Warrant Article Votes
           A - D. Consent Agenda – Passed
                        Cemetery- trust fund acceptance
                        Cemetery- maintenance transfer
                        Water reserve transfer ($35k)
                        Chapter 90 acceptance
         1. Levy limit budget – Passed
        2. Free cash to balance the budget – Passed
         3. Town Override – Passed
         4. Override (loose leaf pick up) contingent on 3 – Lost/Failed at Ballot
         5. Town debt authorization – fire truck – Passed
         6. School override – Passed
         7. School debt exclusion – FY 21 capital – Passed
         8. CPA Appropriations – Passed

Photos from the Annual Town Meeting 

Hearing on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting
Held Monday, July 6, 2020
Available on HWCAM's YouTube page

Annual Town Election - Official Results
Thursday, June 25, 2020, 11:00am - 7:00pm
Bessie Buker Elementary School, 1  School Street

Town Meeting is both an event and an entity. As an event, it is a gathering of all registered voters in the Town of Wenham. As an entity, it is the legislative body of the Town.

Open town meeting is the oldest form of democratic government, dating back to the 17th century. It is a gathering, open to all registered voters, with the purpose of giving every registered voter a voice in all matters concerning the governing of the Town. It is the most direct form of government that can be found. Every vote matters and counts. However, attendance is required to exercise this voice. 

Every town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must have at least one meeting, called the Annual Town Meeting. Wenham by-laws require that we hold ours on the first Saturday in April (exceptions having been made during the recent COVID-19 pandemic). 

Nowadays, with our busy lives, making time to attend these open town meetings is difficult, but the importance has not wavered. If anything, attendance at Town Meeting is more important than ever, with the Town facing a number of issues—financial and otherwise—that will chart the course of Wenham’s future. The ability to raise a concern, vote on a new by-law, or even repeal one is a huge benefit to living in a small town such as Wenham. This opportunity to have a direct role in directing the governance of the Town should be treasured and not wasted.

State law requires a Town Moderator to “preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declarations of all votes” in an open town meeting. I look forward to doing so and facilitating a productive, neighborly experience at our Town Meeting.

Roger L. Smerage
Town Moderator