2022 Special Town Meeting
Saturday, October 1 at 1:00 PM
Buker Elementary School, 1 School Street
The Wenham Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2022 to be held indoors at the Buker School Gymnasium, starting at 1:00 PM.
Please click HERE to view the Warrant Booklet for the Town Meeting.
To check to see if you are a registered voter, please click this link. Online Voter Application (state.ma.us)
If you are new to town and you would like to learn more about town meeting process, please use this link: CIS: Citizen’s Guide to Town Meetings (state.ma.us) to review the document put out by the Secretary of State's Office.
All substantive motions to amend made during Town Meeting must be submitted in writing. To download the Motion to Amend form in Word format prior to Town Meeting, please click here.
Note from the Moderator – The vote required for Article 1, Article 2, and Article 4 is simple majority- not 2/3rd vote as indicted in the warrant book
Babysitting for October 1, 2022 SpecialTown Meeting
Members of the HWRHS National Honor Society will provide babysitting services during the Wenham Town Meeting on October 1st, from 1 – 3 PM, at Miles River Middle School, 775 Bay Road, South Hamilton.
A suggested donation of $10 per child is requested. Cash or check (made payable to the HWRSD) will be accepted at the door.
Water and Goldfish will be provided. Parents may send snacks as long as they are NUT-Free.
Please sign up for the desired timeframe so we have an idea of attendance and can plan accordingly. Please enter your child’s name and age. Families must register in advance, no walk-ins. Thank you for understanding. The deadline to sign up will be noon on Friday, September 30th at noon.
Please use this link to register for babysitting (scroll to bottom of page after clicking):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0545ABAE2DA7FF2-town
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2022 Annual Town Meeting - Annual Election:
The Wenham Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2022 to be held indoors at the Buker School, starting at 1:00 PM. Please click HERE to see a recap of votes of the Town Meeting Articles. Please click HERE to view the Record of Action and Certification of the Annual Town Meeting.
To check to see if you are a registered voter, please click this link. Online Voter Application (state.ma.us)
If you are new to town and you would like to learn more about town meeting process, please use this link
CIS: Citizen’s Guide to Town Meetings (state.ma.us) to review the document put out by the Secretary of State's Office
Please click HERE to view the Warrant Booklet for the Town Meeting.
Please click HERE to view the 2021 Annual Report.
Should you have any questions regarding either the Town Meeting or Town Election, please do not hesitate to contact the Town Clerk's Office at 978-468-5520 x1 or email treid@wenhamma.gov
**********************************************************************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
RSmerage@wenhamma.gov
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2021 Annual Town Meeting
Attorney General's Decision - Article 11 - click here
Summary of Votes - click here
Certification of Votes - click here
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 1:00pm
Pingree Park, 211 Main Street
Voter check-in begins at 12:00pm
Voters, please:
- Wear a face covering
- Bring Warrant Books to Town Meeting
- Handout: HWRSD and Superintendent's Letter
- Handout: Master Plan
- Handout: Citizens' Petition
- Handout: Water Department
Drop-off only at Porter Street entrance
Contact COA at 978-468-5529 or jreynolds@wenhamma.gov for mobility concerns/reserved parking access.
Warrant Hearing for the Annual Town Meeting
Monday, April 26, 2021, 7:00pm
Via Zoom
Visit the FY 2022 Budget Process page
Warrant available online here and delivered to households by April 24
Presentation from the Warrant Hearing
2021 Annual Town Election
Thursday, May 6, 2021, 7:00am - 8:00pm
Wenham Town Hall, 138 Main Street
Visit the Town Clerk's Elections page for information on mail in and absentee voting
2020 Special Town Meeting
Saturday, October 17, 2020, 10:00am
Pingree Park, 211 Main Street
Warrant Article Votes
- Use of Free Cash to Fund FY 2021 Capital Improvement Program - Passed
- Transfer from Water Surplus and Water-related Supervisory Control and Data Aquisition (SCADA) hardware and software - Passed
- Bylaw Amendement: Recodify General Bylaws (click for draft version) - Passed
- Zoning Bylaw Amendement: Recodify Zoning Bylaws (click for draft version) Planning Board Recommendations - Passed
- Local Adoption: Meals Excise Tax - Passed
- Local Adoption: Room Occupancy - Passed
- Easement for National Grid on Town of Wenham property - Passed
- Citizens' Petition - Straw Poll Passed
- Citizens' Petition - Straw Poll Passed
Via Zoom, Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 7:00pm
Available on HWCAM's YouTube page
Board of Selectmen's Notice of Intent to Consider Quorum Reduction for October 17 Special Town Meeting on September 29, 2020
2020 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
