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It’s Your Town Meeting / Deliberative Session​​ - Be There!

  • Writer: Citizens For Wolfeboro
    Citizens For Wolfeboro
  • Jan 19
  • 2 min read

In March of 1996, the Town of Wolfeboro adopted RSA 40:13, known as Senate Bill 2 (SB2). SB2 is a form of Town Meeting that has two sessions:

 

• A Deliberative Session – This first session will consist of explanation, discussion, and debate of each of the warrant articles (WA), and those voters who are present will be given the opportunity to debate, propose, and adopt amendments to each WA, except where the wording of specific articles are prescribed by state law. This is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at 7pm in the Wolfeboro Town Hall.

 

• A Voting Session – This second session is where Warrant Articles presented or amended by the voters at the Deliberative Session will be placed on the official paper ballot and voted on in the voting booth. All registered voters can vote. This is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th at the Wolfeboro Town Hall.


Note on Warrant Articles – Most are drafted by the Select Board, but zoning amendment articles are presented by the Planning Board. Citizens may also present petitioned articles. The estimated total cost of each WA will also be included because, if voted in, it may have an impact on your tax rates. 

 

Held once a year, the Deliberative Session is the voters’ chance to show up at the Town Meeting and let their voices be heard. The Moderator presides over the meeting and announces the rules of procedure at the start of the session. A simple majority vote can overrule the Moderator. It’s pure democracy in action.  


Registered voters can consider the intent of a WA but cannot change the subject matter of a WA (i.e. changing the purchase of a new fire truck to buying a police car). 


Voters can, however, alter the substance of the WA in the following ways: 

  • Rephrase the WA amendment motion

  • Amend the amount of a WA question down to $1.00 to bar spending (this is often referred to as the “no means no” provision) 

  • “Flip” the WA question to NOT do something (although making a WA negative can confuse voters so consider wording carefully)

  • Voters can reject but cannot delete an entire WA 


You may hear the Select Board, or the Town Attorney, say that a WA amendment, if passed, will not be legally binding (enforceable in court), but the voters can still vote on it. If it appears a WA amendment might not be legally binding, don’t be dissuaded. Rephrasing the WA amendment motion still lets officials know that it may be enforceable at the voting session (election) in March. 


When it comes to discussing and debating the Operating Budget, deleting a line item by amendment within the Budget still allows the budget to go forward to be approved by the voters; however, the bottom line of the budget (the total) must be revised to reflect the amended change. This sends a message to the Select Board about the cost of a particular line item, but during the year, they can transfer funds (if the reason is justified) because only the budget bottom line (the total) is legally binding and cannot be exceeded.


If you have not been to a Deliberative session or if it has been a while, this is a good year to be informed, attend, ask questions, debate, and vote on potential amendments. We encourage you to participate in the RSA 40:13 form of government by attending both sessions. 

 

 
 
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