Town Meeting

Since its founding in 1743, the Town of Pelham has maintained the traditional New England Open Town Meeting form of government.  Major decisions affecting the town such as local bylaws and budget are made by the registered voters meeting as a local legislative body.  Every registered voter may attend and vote at town meetings.  The elected Town Moderator is in charge of the meetings.

Annual (Spring) Town Meeting is held on the first Saturday of May.  It is held at the Pelham Elementary School auditorium and normally begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until the business of the warrant is completed; usually 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.  The deadline for articles to be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant is 40 days prior to the date of the meeting.  Articles placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant by citizens require the signatures of 10 registered voters from Pelham.

Special, or Fall Town Meeting is held on a Wednesday evening some time mid to late October at the Old Town Hall.  Using the Old Town Hall for Fall Town Meeting maintains its status as the oldest Town Hall in continuous use in the United States.  Articles placed on the Fall Town Meeting warrant by citizens require the signatures of 100 registered voters from Pelham.  Two hundred signatures are required to call a special town meeting.