Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39, Section 13. Towns may prescribe by by-law the number of voters necessary to constitute a quorum at town meetings; provided, that a number less than a quorum may from time to time adjourn the same. This section shall not apply to such parts of meetings as are devoted exclusively to the election of town officers.

 Town meeting times, official guide book of Templeton Town Meeting, per town bylaws (vote of the people) page 17, chapter 2, speaks to quorums at town meeting. Voters or town meeting members, (if there is a representative town meeting structure) are one of four elements of a town meeting. The other three are a moderator, a clerk and a properly executed warrant with return of service. While town meeting may elect a temporary moderator and / or a temporary clerk if either is absent from the meeting, there is no substitute for the qualified voters. In Massachusetts, the by-laws of an open town meeting, usually  and the acts establishing representative meetings always, specify a minimum number of voters or members who must be present before the meeting can transact any business. In Rhode Island, the number is fixed by statute at seven in towns not over 3,000 in population and 15 in the rest. That number is called a quorum. Page 18 of town meeting times, Towns frequently change the number of voters necessary to constitute a quorum, and some towns have abolished quorum requirements completely. Advantages to abolishing a quorum, unable to conduct town meeting or being forced to adjourn (recess) for lack of a quorum, (you take time off from work to go to town meeting but not enough people so meeting is postponed and you missed work for nothing) another reason is so meetings can begin on time. Voters in towns with a quorum requirement often assume that, although the meeting is to start at 6:00 P.M., no quorum will be there until later so there is no reason to be on time. One concern with a zero quorum is that a small number of voters may convene and conduct business without a broad consensus. This is understandable, but it should be noted that anecdotal evidence offered at meetings of the Massachusetts Moderators association has more than once brought to light cases where attendance actually increased when quorum requirements were eliminated. However, no detailed study has been conducted. (if you want a quorum in Templeton, perhaps do some research on this subject and bring findings to town meeting) Note: page 19 of Town Meeting Times, Even where a quorum is not specified by statute or by-law, meetings have sometimes adjourned voluntarily "upon account of the thinness of the meeting."  You can read this in Town Meeting times if you have or can borrow a copy. I have asked the moderators association if Town Meeting Times could be put on town website electronically, answer was no, if it is "baked" into your by-laws, some parts can but since town meeting times is copyright, and is main fundraising source for moderators' association, they will not let it go electronically. I hope this brief item on quorums for town meetings clears up some confusion, if any, on the subject. Bottom line is if anyone feels Templeton Town Meeting should have a quorum, do a citizen petition and get it in front of town meeting for a vote. My question would be if one feels a quorum is needed because so few people now attend town meeting, would one also think it is fair for 50 or 100 people should make this very important call? Is this a catch 22 situation?