Article II of Templeton General By-Laws; Town Meeting.

Section 6. All articles in any warrant for a town meeting shall be referred to the Advisory Committee for its consideration. The Selectmen after drawing any such warrant shall transmit immediately a copy thereof to the chairman of said committee. A public hearing shall be held, upon all such articles, unless a public hearing by some other tribunal is required by law, and a notice of such hearing shall be given by inserting in the local newspaper. Said committee shall, after due consideration of the subject matter of such articles, report thereon to the town meeting, in writing, such recommendations as it deems best for the interests of the town and its citizens. Copies of the report of the Advisory Committee shall be made available to the voters at least two days before town meetings and at all town meetings.

Section 17. The most current issue of TOWN MEETING TIME is to be considered the general guideline for all procedures of town meetings, except those procedures already provided for by the by-laws.

I believe the Templeton by-laws allow for the Advisory Committee to put it's recommendations on a table (s) outside of Town meeting hall, as in before you sign in and enter Town Meeting, where the Moderator presides, not outside of Town Meeting. Also people are free to bring into town meeting said recommendations to have has reference material when a vote or discussion comes up. Any interference in this practice seems to be a violation of town by-law and an infringement on democracy, in my opinion. Perhaps that needs to be asked of a municipal lawyer and/or the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

posted by Jeff Bennett