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Commission seeks clearer rules for moderator succession and temporary replacements
Summary
The commission debated procedures if the town moderator is incapacitated during a meeting and agreed to add language that the town clerk presides until a temporary moderator is elected by town meeting; the clerk may delegate duties to an assistant.
Commissioners discussed contingency rules for the moderator during town meetings if the elected moderator cannot continue. Members reviewed statutory guidance and recent practice and agreed to add language specifying that the town clerk shall preside until a temporary moderator is elected by town meeting, with the clerk allowed to designate an assistant to fulfill immediate duties.
The discussion noted real-world examples where a moderator recused or was unable to continue and commissioners emphasized the need for clear procedural language rather than leaving the process implicit. A member said they had seen moderators step down mid-meeting and appoint attorneys familiar with procedure to handle articles; the commission preferred a clearer, statutory-aligned fallback whereby the clerk presides until a temporary moderator is elected.
The commission asked staff to add the quoted statutory language under Section 2-5-1 and to include a short explanatory note in the draft report for the public hearing. The commission will circulate the proposed language for review at the next meeting.
