January 29, 2010
 
Your Guide to Deliberative Sessions

The Deliberative Session is the first of two district meetings. At this session warrant articles (items for the March ballot) are presented and discussed by the public prior to the preparation of the ballot which will be created for the second “meeting,” which is the town vote on March 9th. During the discussion of the warrant articles, the public has an opportunity to raise concerns and potentially amend warrant articles. It is very important to attend this meeting, so that you can show your support and voice your opinion.

IMPORTANT DATES:

SCHOOL DELIBERATIVE SESSION:  MONDAY, FEB. 1, 2010, 7:00 PM at GOFFSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

TOWN DELIBERATIVE SESSION:  WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 2010, 7:00 PM at GOFFSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

When you get there, check in at the door, take all available handouts and have a seat. You must be registered to vote in Goffstown in order to vote at the Deliberative Session. (You can register to vote at Town Hall.)

THE MEETING BEGINS:

Town Moderators will introduce themselves and explain the meeting process. Usually, at this time, there will be presentations, awards and recognitions, after which the meeting will proceed. If you wish to speak, you must raise your hand and be recognized or, if there is already a line at the microphone, you may stand in line. You must speak into the microphone and not from your seat. When speaking, you must clearly state your name so that the secretary can record it.

THE VOTING PROCESS:

Voice vote: Once someone motions an article in (which can be done without going to the microphone) and it is seconded, discussion can ensue. (Without a second, the motion dies.) During discussion, the moderator may ask for alternating opinions, pro and con. When the moderator considers an article fully discussed, he will ask for a vote or, if a voter makes a motion to, “move the question,” the moderator will ask for a vote on moving the question. If the vote is in favor of moving the question a vote will be taken. In a voice vote, whichever group is loudest, the yeas or the nays, will be deemed by the moderator the winner.

Hand count: If it is not clear who won the voice vote, the moderator will ask for counters and will proceed in physically counting the yeas and nays. The moderator will ask all the yeas to stand first, and then the nays. The side with the higher count will be considered the winner. 

IMPORTANT:  When a voice vote or vote by division (raising hands / standing / color plaques / etc.) is done, it can be QUESTIONED by seven (7) voters [who are present at the time] and PRIOR TO any other business being taken up by the moderator whereby the moderator SHALL retake the vote by secret written ballot.

Secret Ballot: If you wish to have an article voted on by secret ballot, you must submit your request in writing to the moderator or his assistant. For example, we, the undersigned voters of Goffstown, wish to have Article ____ voted on by secret ballot. This should be done as soon as you know you wish to have the article voted on by secret ballot, as it may not be accepted once the voting process has begun.

AMENDMENTS:

An amendment is a motion to change the funding amount or wording of an article in the original motion. Once an amendment is seconded, the moderator will ask for discussion and go through the usual voting process. If the amendment is passed, then it becomes the main motion and must again be voted on by the voters present in that form. Should the main motion pass, then that will be what shows upon the ballot.

MOTION TO RESTRICT FURTHER CONSIDERATION:

Sometimes meetings can last for several hours, and by the time the last article is read and voted on, many voters are no longer present. Voters on the prevailing side of a motion can move to have an article reconsidered. With this in mind, it is important to either stay until the meeting is officially adjourned or to move, right after a vote on an article, to restrict further consideration of the article.

MOTION TO OVERRIDE MODERATOR'S RULING:

Should the moderator make a ruling that you do not agree with, you can make a motion to override his decision. That motion will require a second and, as with all other votes, is subject to the secret ballot, if you desire.  A simple majority is all that is required to override his decision. 

RELATED INFORMATION:

• Summary of 2010 Town Articles 
• 2010 Town Warrant 
• Summary of 2010 School Articles
• 2010 School Warrant  
• New Hampshire RSA Chapter 40: GOVERNMENT OF TOWN MEETING