How it works - Town By-laws:

Article IV - Advisory Committee
Section 2. The Moderator of the town meeting when this By-Law is adopted shall, within thirty days after such by-law becomes effective, appoint 2 members of said committee for terms of one year, 2 members for terms of two years, and 3 members for terms of three years. At each Annual Town Meeting thereafter the Moderator thereof shall appoint 3 members of said committee for terms of three years. The terms of office of said members shall commence immediately upon qualification and shall expire at the close of final adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting at which their successors are appointed. Said committee shall choose its own officers and shall serve without pay, except the chairman who shall receive such amount as voted upon at the Annual Town Meeting, and it shall cause to be kept a true record of its proceedings.
 Amended 5-11-11

Section 3. The said committee shall fill any vacancy which may occur in its membership, by vote, attested copy of which shall be sent by the secretary to the Town Clerk. If any member is absent from five consecutive meetings of said committee, except in case of illness, his position shall be deemed to be vacant and shall be filled as herein provided. The term of office of any person so chosen to fill a vacancy shall expire at the final adjournment of the next succeeding Annual Town Meeting, and the Moderator thereof shall appoint his successor to complete the unexpired term of the member in whose office such vacancy originally occurred.