The ability to have discussion is one of the strengths of an in-person town meeting. Voters can ask questions and get information. Voters can share information and opinions. Voters can hear about their neighbors’ concerns and views. Voters can question and challenge their elected officials.

In my town of Cambridge, Vermont, there are two meetings on Town Meeting Day:

• town meeting
• town school district meeting

Not every town in Vermont has a town school district, but Cambridge does. The town school district is responsible for the Cambridge Elementary School (CES). The voters in the town school district are the same as the voters in the town. For the town, the primary governing body is the selectboard. For the town school district, the primary governing body is the CES school board.

Both meetings have articles specifically for discussion, including:

• Reports of the town officers or school board directors
• Other business

Voters may not take any binding action under those discussion articles, but this does not mean that such articles are unimportant. In some years, the most interesting parts of town meeting occur under “other business”!

What can be done during a discussion article?

While no binding action may be taken under those discussion articles, voters have other ways to influence their government. Voters may speak their mind. Voters often ask probing questions. If voters wish to be more direct, they may move, discuss, and pass non-binding motions. Elected officials are not required to abide by non-binding motions, but voters may take that into consideration in the next election.

Of course, every article at an in-person town meeting is open for discussion. Some articles generate little discussion, while other articles lead to considerable discussion. The selectboard or school board chooses articles for the warning. Voters may also petition for articles to be included in the warning.

The ability to have discussion at in-person town meetings is indeed Vermont’s superpower.