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		BROOKLINE'S TOWN GOVERNMENT History Brookline's Town Meeting form of government had its roots dating back to when the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts Bay in the early 1600's. At that time, the freemen in settlements would periodically meet to decide among themselves where they would build their homes, the meeting house, and the stockades. They decided how much land each should have for the support of his family. As the number of men increased, it seemed desirable to have a fixed time for their meetings to take care of the community business. One of the earliest records of an agreement for holding such regular town meetings is an entry in the Cambridge records, dated December 24, 1632. It is an agreement to meet on the second Monday of each month in the afternoon "after the ringing of the bell." Other towns made similar arrangements. As issues became more complex and the settlers became preoccupied with other life sustaining pursuits, a few freemen were "selected" to make necessary decisions between Town Meetings. These individuals later became known as Selectmen, who were elected for fixed terms. In 1641 the colonists drafted a basic body of laws called the Body of Liberties. The following abbreviated quotations from that document reveal that the basic pattern of our present day town government was already established in 1641. "Every man...shall have liberty to come to any Town Meeting, and either by speech or writing to move any lawful, reasonable, and material question... If any man shall behave himself offensively at any Town Meeting, the rest of the freemen then present, shall have power to sentence him for his offense. The freemen of every township shall have power to make such by-laws and constitutions as concern the welfare of their town, provided they be not of a criminal but only of a prudential nature. The freemen of every town or township shall have full power to choose yearly . . .a convenient number of fit men to order the planting or prudential occasions of that town, according to instructions given to them in writing." Town Meeting The Town Meeting/Selectmen form of government prevails to this day in Brookline. The Town has a representative Town Meeting system whereby 240 residents, 15 from each of the 16 precincts in Town, are elected to serve as Town Meeting Members. The elected offices of Moderator, Town Clerk, Selectmen, and members of the General Court of the Commonwealth, who reside in Brookline, are deemed at-large Town Meeting Members. While only Town Meeting Members may vote, any citizen of Brookline may speak at Town Meeting if recognized by the Moderator. Town Meeting serves as the legislative body of the town. It meets in May for its annual meeting at which the annual budget is adopted. Town Meeting also meets in the Fall. Other meetings, which are rare, would be held only for emergency purposes or if immediate action was necessary. As the Town's legislative body, Town Meeting is responsible for approving all appropriations of funds, local laws, including the Zoning Laws, and accepting state statutes requiring local acceptance. Board of Selectmen The Board of Selectmen, consisting of five members elected at large for three year staggered terms, serves as the executive body of the Town. The Selectmen execute policies adopted by Town Meeting, review and make recommendations on the budget, authorize expenditures, appoint most department heads, boards, commissions, and other personnel, serve as the Licensing Board, and represent the Town before state, regional and metropolitan bodies. The Selectmen issue the warrants for Town Meetings that contain all the articles of business for action at Town Meeting. The Selectmen include articles on their own initiative, at the request of boards and commissions, and on the petition of 10 or more registered voters. The Selectmen appoint the Town Administrator, who functions as the Chief Administrative Officer. He/She is responsible for administering policies established by Town Meeting and the Selectmen, preparation and control of the annual budget, and preparation of the Capital Improvements Plan and other long-range planning instruments. The Town Administrator assists and advises the Selectmen in determining policy, recommends the appointment of virtually all Department Heads, and provides for their supervision, annual evaluations, and facilitates coordination of efforts among all departments. Town Moderator The Town Moderator is elected by the voters for a three-year unpaid term. The Moderator presides over the Town Meeting,  appoints the members of the Advisory Committee, the Committee on Town Organization and Structure and ad hoc committees authorized by Town Meeting. Advisory Committee The Advisory Committee is a volunteer citizen committee, appointed by the Town Moderator, to serve in an independent, advisory capacity to Town Meeting. It is responsible for reviewing and making reports and recommendations on all business coming before Town Meeting including budgets and local laws.