Danvers would submit town meeting rules for local approval

Elected town meeting representatives and select board members would decide Danvers town business. Representatives would come from Danvers voting precincts with roughly equal populations and no more than 4,000 residents each. Other registered voters could speak under rules set by town meeting members, but could not vote at those meetings. Decisions affecting the town’s existence or changing its government would require a townwide ballot vote. The proposal calls for select board approval and a representative town meeting acceptance vote. Voters would normally elect one-third of their precinct’s representatives each year to three-year terms.

Danvers voters could require a townwide ballot vote on most town meeting decisions by filing a petition. The proposed rules would cover most decisions made at Danvers representative town meetings. At least 3% of registered Danvers voters would need to sign the petition. This process would exclude votes to adjourn or borrow against expected current-year tax receipts. The townwide vote would require the same share of votes that the law requires at town meeting. The petition window would start when the town meeting ends. Covered decisions would take effect when that window expires if no petition is filed.

A nine-member finance committee would review town business publicly, and Danvers would periodically review its town meeting rules. The finance committee would recommend actions on spending, borrowing, town property, and other town questions. The town moderator would appoint finance committee members who are not town meeting members. All residents could attend finance committee meetings. When town meeting votes to review the act, the moderator would appoint Danvers residents to conduct the review. Public hearings would precede recommendations. Finance committee members would serve staggered three-year terms. A majority of town meeting members could call for an earlier review of the act.