Article 1

Town Election and Town Meetings

Section 1 Annual Town Election and Town Meetings

In accordance with Section 3-1 (c) and Section 2-12 (a) of the Charter, the following dates are established.

The town election, officially known as the Annual Town Meeting for the election of Town officers and for the determination of all questions as are by law to be decided by ballot of the voters, shall be held on the last Tuesday in March of each year. On or before November 15, the Board of Selectmen, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, may change the date of the next town election to any Tuesday in March or April.

The spring session of the representative town meeting, known as the Spring Annual Town Meeting, shall be called for 7:30 P.M. on the second Tuesday following the town election.

The fall session of the representative town meeting, known as the Fall Annual Town Meeting, shall be called for 7:30 P.M. on the third Tuesday in October of each year. The Board of Selectmen may delay the start of the Fall Annual Town Meeting, provided that the delayed Fall Annual Town Meeting shall start in October or November.

Section 2 Special Town Meetings

The Board of Selectmen shall call a Special Town Meeting, in accordance with Section 2-11 (c) of the Charter, by giving public notice in a local newspaper at least twenty-eight (28) days prior to the date of such Special Town Meeting, except where compliance with this provision would defeat the purpose of said Special Town Meeting. Special Town Meetings shall be held on a Tuesday at 7:30 P.M.

Section 3 Adjourned Town Meetings

Adjourned sessions of every Town Meeting, when required, shall be held on the following Thursday at 7:30 P.M., and on consecutive Tuesdays and Thursdays thereafter at 7:30 P.M. Such sequence shall not include any Tuesday or Thursday that occurs on or during (a) a holiday for town employees designated by the Town of Natick or (b) a holiday or vacation for students (other than summer vacation) designated by the Natick Public Schools. Notwithstanding the previous provisions of this section, Town Meeting may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Town Meeting Members present and voting, adjourn to any date and time.

Section 4 Publication of Warrant

The warrant for the town election or preliminary election shall be posted at least fourteen days before the date of the election. The warrant for any other Town Meeting shall be posted in accordance with Section 2-11(d) of the Charter. Service of the Warrant for every Town Meeting, unless a different time or method is prescribed by law, shall be made by posting an attested copy thereof in each of the Post Offices, on the Town Website, all public libraries and in not less than one public place in each precinct in said Town, and by publishing in a newspaper of general circulation in said Town a notice of availability of an attested copy of said warrant and the titles of the articles on the Warrant.

Section 5 Initiation of Articles

In accordance with Article 2, Section 2-11 of the Charter the Board of Selectmen shall receive all petitions which are addressed to it and which request the submission of particular subject matter to the representative town meeting or which are filed by the Town Administrator or the Superintendent of Schools.