What is the Moderator?

What Does the Town Moderator Do?

• The Town Moderator plays a key role in Belmont’s local democracy. The Moderator presides over Town Meeting—our town’s legislative body, made up of 288 elected Town Meeting Members along with several at-large Members.

• At Town Meeting, the Moderator’s job is to run the meeting in a way that is fair, orderly, and respectful, making sure every Member has the opportunity to participate and that decisions are made according to clear rules and procedures. The Moderator does not decide the outcome of votes—the decisions belong entirely to Town Meeting.

• Behind the scenes, the Moderator works with the Town Clerk, Town Administrator, and Select Board to prepare for each meeting. The agenda—called the Warrant—is set by the Select Board, although residents can also place articles on the agenda through Citizen’s Petition.

• The Moderator also helps strengthen Town Meeting by:

Orienting and supporting new Town Meeting Members

Communicating clearly about upcoming meetings and procedures

Appointing qualified residents to key committees

• Committees appointed by the Moderator include:

The Warrant Committee (the Town’s finance committee)

The Comprehensive Capital Budget Committee

The Bylaw Review Committee

The Permanent Building Advisory Committee

Special project and building committees

These appointments help ensure that Belmont’s major financial, capital, and policy decisions are reviewed by residents with the skills and experience to do the work well.

What the Moderator Does Not Do

The Moderator’s role is about process and fairness—not policy or executive authority.

• The Moderator does not set the Town Meeting agenda. The Select Board sets the Warrant, except for articles submitted by Citizen’s Petition.

• The Moderator is not part of the Select Board and does not serve as its advisor. The Select Board is a separate branch of town government.

• The Moderator does not run town operations, manage staff, or make decisions about services or spending outside of Town Meeting votes and committee appointments.

Why This Matters

Belmont’s Town Meeting works best when it is open, transparent, and run in a way that gives every Member—and every neighborhood—a voice. The Moderator’s role is to protect the integrity of that process so Town Meeting reflects the community it serves.