Town Meeting Votes
The following is a chronological list of votes taken at Town Meeting relating to various subjects which are not in the nature of material which would be codified but which may be of interest to the town. Consult municipal records for a more detailed description of the action.
Adoption Date
Subject
Library Trustees have power to elect a Treasurer from their own number
Town Treasurer charge $2 for letting the Town Hall, except for literary and church purposes, and dancing prohibited
Selectmen shall act as town agents
Choose a Tree Warden for the term of 1 year
Rescind the vote whereby the town increased the School Committee from 3 to 6 and to elect a committee of 3 members
Assessors travel together in their duties as Assessors
Elect 3 Assessors, to be chosen to serve 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively
When the Town Treasurer receives $250, Knight’s Cemetery shall be accepted as town property
Accept the division of the town into voting precincts as prepared by the Selectmen
Chair appoint a committee of 5 to act as a Finance Committee, such Committee to serve without pay of any kind
Pay our town laborers by the hour
Selectmen to see that the town reports be kept in a binder
Establish an emergency fund in the hands of the Finance Committee
All orders to be approved by the Chairman of the Selectmen, except the (2-12-1916) fees for the return of births, and that any bills or orders paid without such approval shall be at the expense of the person paying same and not at the expense of the town
Revoke that part of the vote passed on March
Accept the permanent care of the Arba Randall Cemetery, so-called, if endowed with a fund of $500
Valuation list be printed annually
Elect 3 Cemetery Commissioners for three-year overlapping terms
Board of Selectmen appoint a Highway Surveyor, not a member of the Board of Selectmen, to have charge of roads under their supervision
Board of Selectmen act as Board of Public Welfare (Welfare functions have subsequently been taken over by the state.)
Establish Australian ballot system in voting for town offices; also rescinded the 1929 ATM, Art. 18, vote that nominations be made from the floor
Elect 1 Selectman for 3 years, 1 for 2 years and 1 for 1 year, beginning in 1933, and thereafter to elect 1 each year for a term of 3 years
Recommend that all articles for annual town warrant be placed in the hands of the Town Clerk not later than January 5
Have all roads kept open for travel in winter, where families live on such roads
Elect a Moderator for the term of 1 year by official ballot
Nominate from the floor, and the two highest to have their names appear on the official ballot
Future town meetings to be opened at 1:00 p.m.
Persons digging up a highway for any purpose shall get permission from the Selectmen and pay the cost of having it restored
Voted: “We keep our town by itself and do our own civilian defense.”
Have town warrants posted at Wentworth filling station, Royal Grocery and Knight four corners, and a fourth at a suitable place
Accept Arnold Cemetery as town property
Elect a Board of Health other than the Selectmen, 1 to be elected for 1 year, 1 elected for 2 years and 1 elected for 3 years in 1958, and 1 elected for 3 years each year thereafter
Abandon workmen’s compensation insurance and purchase same from an insurance company
Instruct the Selectmen to petition the General Court for legislation authorizing the town to transfer the balance remaining in the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance Fund into a Stabilization Fund, provided for by MGL c. 40, §5B
Accept Pelham Hill Church as a town building
Include school teachers in the coverage provided by workmen’s compensation insurance
Make Pelham a one-precinct town
Authorize the Pelham Historical Society to have the use of the old Congregational Church as a museum
Abolish the practice of electing constables and instead empower the Board of Selectmen to appoint as many as it deems necessary to serve for a term of 1 year
Allow the Selectmen to pay the Road Superintendent for 8 holidays and 2 weeks’ vacation, after 30 weeks of employment
Allow the Keeper of the Dog Pound to retain all fees
Authorize the Pelham Historical Society to be the custodians of the Town Hall and Complex and to use it with the right to repair and restore the premises as conditions permit
Adopt Official Map of the Town of Pelham as provided under MGL c. 41, s 81E
Change the term of office from 1 to 3 years for the Town Clerk, the Treasurer and the Town Collector, starting with the election of 1969
Accept the Pelham Valley Cemetery in its entirety
Change the name under Art. 4 (budget category) 0405A of General Government from Assistant Treasurer to Secretary of Town Offices
Accept road into Laurel Heights (Bray Court) as a public way
Voted to become a member of the Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning District
Change the place of the posting of the town warrant from the nonexisting store to the bulletin board at the Selectmen’s office
Change the date of the Annual Town Meeting from the first Saturday in March to the first Saturday in April
Accept deed to Quaker Cemetery
Accept Pine Tree Circle as a public way
Accept Country Lane as a public way
Accept all school bus shelters given to the town
Direct the Historical Commission to enter agreement with Massachusetts Historical Commission to create preservation restrictions
Hold ATM and elections on the first or second Saturday in May
Open ATM at 10:00 a.m.
Join Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Change term of Tree Warden from 1 to 3 years beginning with 1980 ATM
Authorize Finance Committee to provide sick leave for hourly employees of the Highway Department and town offices
Authorize Treasurer to establish a sick leave fund according to terms of the program created by Selectmen
Authorize Selectmen to set charge for street list not to exceed $2 per copy; free to departments and elected officials
Require commercial spray companies to notify beekeepers in town at least 24 hours prior to spraying against gypsy moths
Amend the Official Town Map to reflect extension of Butter Hill Road by 366.71 feet
Reduce the membership of the Conservation Commission from 7 to 5
Authorize Treasurer to enter into compensating balance for fiscal year 1987
Establish and appoint a Long-Range Planning Committee
Moderator appoint a Regional School District Planning Committee
Expend balance of Dog Fund for support elementary school library
Adopt new fee schedule for Town Clerk to exceed in some cases the fees set by statute
Abolish the position of Burial Agent since duties are carried out by Cemetery Commission
Adopt year-round Leash Law
Enter agreement with Eastern Hampshire Regional Refuse District as an associate town
Accept 2 permanent drainage easements at Amherst Road and Harris Brook to repair reservoir culvert
Beginning fiscal year 1994, to enter compensating balance agreements not to exceed 3 years
Petition the Legislature to allow Collector to be appointed, not elected (Gov. approv. 10-23-1993)
Petition the Legislature to allow Treasurer to be appointed, not elected (Gov. approv. 10-23-1993)
Approve $23,100 for Regional High School renovation expansion
Increase membership of the Library Trustees from 3 to 6
Beginning fiscal year 1997, voted to enter compensating balance agreements not to exceed 3 years
Amend the charge of the Recreation Commission to include the Elementary School playground within the charge of assessing the recreational needs of the town