Our annual Town Meeting is March 14 at the Islesford Neighborhood House. I’ve attended more than 40 of these and no two are alike. Some wrap by lunch. Others go on and on. Some are contentious, others drama-free as we handle the business of a small town spread over five islands. We alternate responsibilities between Little and Great Cranberry with the host island also providing a meal.
First, we elect a moderator. I remember Wilfred Bunker, Al Gray, David Stainton, and Hugh Dwelley among those who guided us through many meetings. While I’d served as a ballot clerk for some of those, I never considered doing so myself.
But in 2003, we held a special meeting to vote on purchasing property in Manset for future parking needs. Hugh couldn’t make it, so I was asked if I could be elected to moderate. I had never been so nervous, but got unanimous consent from voters to ask Joe Delafield, a lawyer in the audience, for procedural advice. He boosted my confidence, but by the end I never wanted to do that again!
Or so I thought. A year later, the selectmen decided to change the annual meeting date from March 8 to 15. Something about scheduling for municipal committee attendance. A few people would meet on the 8th to elect a moderator, then adjourn to “time and date certain,” or the 15th. Frances Bartlett, our town clerk, asked if I could moderate the first meeting. She gave me a copy of the Maine Moderator’s Manual, which I skimmed until reaching the part that said the moderator continues when the meeting resumes at date certain. It would be all one meeting, not two! I started to read and underline in earnest.
By the end, I may not have memorized everything, but I learned where to find the answers I’d need. It served me well, because not everyone “got the memo” about the new date. The school superintendent was there to explain the school budget, and several people came from the fire department. There were others who wanted to hold the whole meeting on the original date.
From the start, the meeting was unusual. We recessed right away for 20 minutes to clear up the date confusion. We resumed and two articles were taken out of order, one being the school budget. We recessed for another 45 minutes to learn about the fire department article. Several uncustomary motions required a 2/3 majority vote. When we finally adjourned around noon, we had made it through just four articles. Thirty-four more awaited us when we met again.
I found the moderator’s manual invaluable. It’s written with common sense and a slight sense of humor. It gave me the confidence to finish that first meeting and be elected to moderate 16 more. I ended up totally enjoying this form of community service, though I’m sorry for a few memorable moments of which I’m not so proud. At least I learned from them.
Now that it’s someone else’s turn, I have three pieces of advice for moderators:
- Give yourself a break and leave your ego at the door.
- The 22-page Maine Moderator’s Manual is a reliable friend.
- If you need to rap your gavel hard, do it on the table, not on the antique ballot box. It’s breakable.
Barbara Fernald lives on Islesford (Little Cranberry Island). She may be contacted at Fernald244@gmail.com.
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