5/17/21 3:00 p.m.: After closely monitoring the weather, the Town Moderator has determined Town Meeting will proceed tonight as scheduled at 6:00 p.m. Town Meeting will be held in-person on Veterans Field at Stone Park (Dedham High School Football Field).

A live broadcast will be provided by Dedham TV and a livestream will be available on www.dedhamtv.com. 

5/17/21 12:00 p.m.: The Town Moderator is closely monitoring the weather conditions for tonight's meeting and will make a determination by the deadline of 3:00 p.m. today. Please stay tuned for additional updates and announcements.

WHEN:   Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. (rain date in Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.)

WHERE: Veterans Field at Stone Park (also known as the Dedham High School Football Field, 170 Whiting Avenue, Dedham, MA 02026 (Directions)

Click on the Book cover below or using the link to access and download a copy of the Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant Book for May 17, 2021:

May 2021 Warrant - FWC Report & Recommendations

Before Town Meeting

1. We ask that members plan on arriving at 5:30 to ease the flow onto the field. Members can use any of the three entry points: next to the HS building, next to the flagpole and parking lot or from the Avery School campus.
2. Only Town Meeting Representatives and town officials will be sitting on the field. All others are invited to sit in the stands.
3. Golf carts will be available to assist those who need additional support to access their seat on the field.
4. Town Meeting Members are asked to enter the field and go directly to the seating section designated for their precinct. Please do not move the chairs; they are set for 6 feet of social distancing.
5. Masks/face coverings are required. For those unable to wear a mask, a separate seating section will be available.
6. Staff from the Town Clerk’s office will come to you once you are seated, mark you as present and give you a nametag. We will not be using lanyards. If you arrive late to the meeting, please visit the table at the rear of the football field to check-in and get your nametag.
7. Please feel free to bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, sanitizer, your Warrant Book, smart phone or tablet and cold beverages in a cooler. Water will not be provided at this meeting.
8. Please do not gather in groups on the field waiting for the meeting to begin. Social distancing must be maintained during this outdoor event, per Covid-19 protocols.
9. The Town Moderator and his team will monitor the weather leading up to Town Meeting. By 3:00 p.m. on the day of Town Meeting, the Town Moderator will make a determination to postpone the event due to the weather. The rain date for Town Meeting is Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. on the High School Football Field. Town Meeting Members will be notified by email if there is a postponement. To insure you are notified, please send your email address to Town Clerk Paul Munchbach at pmunchbach@dedham-ma.gov. The Town will also use the “Code Red” system to call all residents with updates. Please register your home phone number AND cell phone using this link:https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/CB2984C91756.
10. The Town Meeting will be held in person. There is not an option to participate virtually for this Meeting, but the Meeting will be shown live on Dedham Cable TV and will be livestreamed on www.dedhamtv.com.

During Town Meeting

1. The Town Moderator will open the meeting after a quorum is recorded, salute the flag, and begin business.
2. The 2021 Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant contains 18 Articles. The Warrant Review Meeting, also known as “Mini Town Meeting”, was held on Monday, May 10 via Zoom. The recording of this meeting is available for review at www.dedhamtv.com.
3. Those wishing to speak are asked to stand and ask to be recognized, per usual procedures. Staff and volunteers will be watching for those who want to speak and will be on the field to assist.
4. When you are recognized, a microphone will be brought to you. The microphone will be on an extended pole. Please do not touch the microphone. It will be cleaned after each speaker.
5. When a voice vote is called for, please call out “Yea” or “Nay” for the Moderator to judge the vote. As always, 7 members may call for a standing vote and 15 may call for a roll call vote.
6. Any member wishing to present a document must submit it to Town Hall by 12:00 on Monday, May 17. It will be entered onto the Town website and members can access the document on their mobile devices while on the field.
7. Fallon Ambulance personnel will be onsite for those not feeling well during the meeting.
8. Portable restrooms will be available at Town Meeting for use by everyone in attendance.

After Town Meeting

1. For the safety of all and to avoid gathering in large crowds, Town Meeting members will be dismissed from the field when their precinct number is called.
2. Upon completion by the Town Clerk’s Office, Town Meeting records will be posted on the Town website.

WHEN IS SPRING ANNUAL TOWN MEETING?

Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early. The Meeting will start when a quorum is recorded by the Moderator.

WHERE WILL TOWN MEETING BE HELD?

Town Meeting will be held on the Veterans Field at Stone Park (also known as the Dedham High School Football Field).  Please note: This is an Outdoor event, please plan accordingly.

WHERE DO I PARK?

Public parking spaces are available in the following locations:

• Accessible Parking Spaces: Designated along Whiting Avenue (in front of the high school)
• Other Public Parking: Upper parking lot at the Field, Avery parking lot, rear parking lot at the high school, and in the tennis court parking lot

WHERE DO I GO WHEN I ARRIVE?

When you arrive at the High School, please follow the sidewalks and signage to enter the field:

• Entrance/Exit: All attendees will follow the sidewalks and signage to the open gates located to the right of the high school auditorium and proceed to the second set of open gates that lead to the track/field area. Entrance to the field is also permitted through the open gates near the flagpole, located at the eastern end of the field.
• Town Meeting Members Seating Area: Upon arrival, each Town Meeting Representatives will proceed to the seating area designated for their precinct and local officials will be seated in a designated area beside the stage. The Town Clerk’s Office staff will walk around to track attendance for the public record.
• Public Seating Area: Non-voting attendees from the public will be seated in the bleachers only.

WILL THERE BE SOMEONE TO HELP ME FIND MY SEAT OR GET AROUND THE FIELD, IF NEEDED?

Yes, staff and volunteers will be onsite to assist with making sure all Town Meeting Representatives find their proper section and seat.

Golf carts will be available for those who may need additional assistance around the field.

Please follow social distancing protocols and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others in attendance at Town Meeting.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?

The following items are recommended to bring with you to Town Meeting:

• Mask/Face Covering: All attendees are asked to wear a mask or face covering at this event, in accordance with the Governor's recent order to wear masks at outdoor events with large numbers of people in attendance.
• Warrant Book: Printed Warrant Books were mailed to all Town Meeting Representatives. A copy of the Warrant Books with the Finance and Warrant Committee recommendations on which Town Meeting members will be voting is available for review and download on the Town website at www.dedham-ma.gov/townmeeting, and is linked on the homepage.
• Water, if desired: Using feedback from the August 2020 Town Meeting held outdoors, bottles of water will not be provided this year.
• Other items: Please plan to bring any additional weather-protection items (i.e., hat, coat, sunglasses, SPF, etc.) for an outdoor event.

CAN I WATCH TOWN MEETING ON TV?

Yes, Dedham TV will broadcast Town Meeting live on the Government Channel and it will be livestreamed on www.dedhamtv.com.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS INCLEMENT WEATHER?

The Town Moderator and his team will monitor the weather leading up to Town Meeting. By 3:00 p.m. on the day of Town Meeting, the Town Moderator will make a determination to postpone the event due to the weather. The rain date for Town Meeting is Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. on the High School Football Field.

Notice of a postponement will be sent out by the Town using our automated phone system (CodeRED), and additional notifications will be shared on the Town website, social media, an email to Town Meeting District Chairs for distribution to their Precincts, and to those subscribed to the Town Meeting email list. If you have not yet subscribed for news about Town Meeting, you can sign up using this link: www.dedham-ma.gov/government/town-meeting

To sign up for CodeRED Alerts, visit https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/CB2984C91756.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE TOWN MEETING INFORMATION?

Additional information and updates will about the upcoming Town Meeting will be shared through the Town website, social media, and email notifications. If you would like to subscribe for email notifications, please visit www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe.

The Warrant Review Meeting, also known as Mini Town Meeting, was held via Zoom on Monday, May 10, 2021 to review the warrants with Town officials, Town Meeting Representatives, and members of the public, and is available to watch on demand, courtesy of Dedham TV. Visit www.dedhamtv.com to view program schedules and to watch videos online.

Town Meeting has  273 representative members elected to terms of 1-3 years during the annual Town elections, which are held on the second Saturday of April. Town Meeting members meet, deliberate, act, and vote in the exercise of the corporate powers of the Town during spring, fall, and special Town Meetings.

Download a current list of Town Meeting members.

Dedham is incorporated as a Town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and governed by a legislative branch called Town Meeting. and an executive branch headed by the Board of Selectmen Town meeting is representative, with residents elected from the Town's seven precincts. Its powers and responsibilities are defined by Town Charter Article II. Representative Town Meeting.

Town Meeting is conducted with the help of the Select Board, Town Clerk, Town Manager, and Town Moderator.

View and download a Town Voting Precinct Map, or you can use an interactive map to find your Precinct.