Recall Elections
I have been asked many times about the process for recall elections. A recall process was adopted for Hadley under Chapter 384 of the Acts of 1987, a copy of which is available from the town clerk or the selectmen's office.

Basically, ten registered voters must submit an affidavit to the town clerk stating the reasons for the recall: lack of fitness, incompetence, neglect of duties, corruption, malfeasance, misfeasance of violation of oath. The petitioners must then collect names, addresses and signatures of 20% of registered voters (603) and submit the petition to the clerk for certification. The selectmen then schedule an election. The officer against whom the recall is directed may be a candidate to succeed himself. No recall petition may be filed against an officer within three months after he takes office nor within three months after a recall election which failed to recall the officer.

PLEASE NOTE: this is ONLY a brief summary. The complete text is available from the town clerk or the selectmen's office.

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Right to Speak at Public Meetings
I have been asked frequently about the right of a person to speak at a public meeting. This topic is addressed under Mass. General Laws Chapter 39, section 23C (Open Meeting Law) which reads as follows:

No person shall address a public meeting of a governmental body with our permission of the presiding officer at such meeting, and all persons shall, at the request of the presiding officer, be silent. If, after warning from the presiding officer, the person persists in disorderly behavior, said officer may order him to withdraw from the meeting, and, if he does not withdraw, may order a constable or any other person to remove him and confine him in some convenient location until the meeting is adjourned.

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Petitions for town meeting
I have received numerous requests for information on submitting petitions for town meeting. This process is governed by Mass. General Laws Chapter 39, section 10, which is summarized as follows:

1. To place an article on the warrant of the annual town meeting requires the signatures of 10 registered voters.
2. To call for a for a special town meeting requires the signatures of 200 registered voters. A special town meeting must be called within 45 days of receipt of such request.
3. To place an article on the warrant for a special town meeting which has been set requires the signatures of 100 registered voters.

Addresses of registered voters signing petitions must be included. Copies of MGL 39, Section 10 are available at town hall.

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