Our Town's government takes the form of an open town meeting, a direct democracy, which means all registered voters may be heard and may debate and vote on policy decisions affecting the Town.
Shutesbury's Annual Town Meeting is held on the last Saturday in April, and the election of Town officials is held at that time. The Annual Town Meeting has three chief functions:
- to appropriate money for operational costs
- to act on policies and bylaws brought forth by committees or boards
- to hear reports from Town officials, committees, boards, and departments
During the year, the Select Board may schedule a Special Town Meeting as needed, and the meeting will be duly posted and publicized throughout Town.
Annual and Special Town Meetings are presided over by the Town Moderator, using the Massachusetts Moderators Association's Town Meeting Time as guide for parliamentary procedures. The practical/formal terms of conducting a Town Meeting can be found here.