60.10
60.10
Powers of town meeting. 60.10(1)
(1)
Direct powers. The town meeting may:
60.10(1)(a)
(a)
Raise money. Raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the town, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under
sub. (2) (a).
60.10(1)(b)1.1. Fix the compensation of elective town offices under
s. 60.32, unless the authority has been delegated to the town board under
sub. (2) (k).
60.10(1)(b)2m.
2m. In a town with a population of 2,500 or more, provide for the appointment by the town board of the town clerk, town treasurer, or both, or of the combined office of town clerk and town treasurer under
s. 60.305 (1), at a level of compensation to be set by the board that may not be reduced during the term to which the person is appointed.
60.10(1)(b)4.
4. Establish or abolish the office of town constable and establish the number of constables. Abolition of the office is effective at the end of the term of the person serving in the office.
60.10(1)(b)5.
5. Designate the office of town clerk, town treasurer or the combined office of clerk and treasurer as part-time under
s. 60.305 (1) (b).
60.10(1)(b)6.
6. Designate town board supervisors as full-time officers.
60.10(1)(c)2.
2. Provide under
s. 8.05 (3) (a) for the nomination of candidates for elective town offices at a nonpartisan primary election.
60.10(1)(d)
(d)
Public waterways. Appropriate money for the improvement and maintenance of a public waterway under
s. 81.05.
60.10(1)(f)
(f)
Administrator agreements. Approve agreements to employ an administrator for more than 3 years under
s. 60.37 (3) (d).
60.10(2)
(2) Directives or grants of authority to town board. Except as provided under
par. (c), directives or grants of authority to the town board under this subsection may be general and continuing or may be limited as to purpose, effect or duration. A resolution adopted under this subsection shall specify whether the directive or grant is general and continuing or whether it is limited as to purpose, effect or duration. A resolution that is continuing remains in effect until rescinded at a subsequent town meeting by a number of electors equal to or greater than the number of electors who voted for the original resolution. This subsection does not limit any authority otherwise conferred on the town board by law. By resolution, the town meeting may:
60.10(2)(a)
(a)
Raise money. Authorize the town board to raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the town.
60.10(2)(b)
(b)
Membership of town board in populous towns. In a town with a population of 2,500 or more, direct the town board to increase the membership of the board under
s. 60.21 (2).
60.10(2)(c)
(c)
Exercise of village powers. Authorize the town board to exercise powers of a village board under
s. 60.22 (3). A resolution adopted under this paragraph is general and continuing.
60.10(2)(d)
(d)
General obligation bonds. Authorize the town board to issue general obligation bonds in the manner and for the purposes provided by law.
60.10(2)(e)
(e)
Purchase of land. Authorize the town board to purchase any land within the town for present or anticipated town purposes.
60.10(2)(f)
(f)
Town buildings. Authorize the town board to purchase, lease or construct buildings for the use of the town, to combine for this purpose the town's funds with those of a society or corporation doing business or located in the town and to accept contributions of money, labor or space for this purpose.
60.10(2)(g)
(g)
Disposal of property. Authorize the town board to dispose of town property, real or personal, other than property donated to and required to be held by the town for a special purpose.
60.10(2)(h)
(h) Exercise of certain zoning authority. In a town located in a county which has enacted a zoning ordinance under
s. 59.69, authorize, under
s. 60.62 (2), the town board to enact town zoning ordinances under
s. 61.35.
60.10(2)(i)
(i)
Watershed protection and soil and water conservation. Authorize the town board to engage in watershed protection, soil conservation or water conservation activities beneficial to the town.
60.10(2)(j)
(j)
Appointed assessors. Authorize the town board to select assessors by appointment under
s. 60.307 (2).
60.10(2)(k)
(k)
Compensation of elective town offices. Authorize the town board to fix the compensation of elective town offices under
s. 60.32 (1) (b).
60.10(3)
(3) Authorization to town board to appropriate money. The town meeting may authorize the town board to appropriate money in the next annual budget for:
60.10(3)(a)
(a)
Conservation of natural resources. The conservation of natural resources by the town or by a bona fide nonprofit organization under
s. 60.23 (6).
60.10(3)(c)
(c)
Insects, weeds and animal diseases. The control of insect pests, weeds or plant or animal diseases within the town.
60.10(3)(d)
(d)
Rural numbering systems. Posting signs and otherwise cooperating with the county in the establishment of a rural numbering system under
s. 59.54 (4) and
(4m).
60.10 Annotation
The terms "authorize" and "direct" in sub. (2) are not used interchangeably. A town meeting that "authorize(s)" an act gives the town board permission to do the act within its discretion, but if it "direct(s)" that an act be done, the action is mandatory. Graziano v. Town of Long Lake,
191 Wis. 2d 813,
530 N.W.2d 55 (Ct. App. 1995).
60.10 Annotation
Assessments made by an assessor appointed in the absence of authorization under sub. (2) (j) were valid under the de facto officer doctrine. Joyce v. Town of Tainter, 2000 WI App 15,
232 Wis. 2d 349,
606 N.W.2d 284.
60.11
60.11
Annual town meeting. 60.11(1)
(1)
Requirement. Each town shall hold an annual town meeting, as provided in this section.
60.11(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), the annual town meeting shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of April.
60.11(2)(b)
(b) The annual town meeting may set a date different than provided under
par. (a) for the next annual town meeting if the date is within 10 days after the 2nd Tuesday of April.
60.11(3)(a)(a) The annual town meeting may be held in the town or in any village or city within or adjoining the town.
60.11(3)(b)
(b) The annual town meeting shall be held at the location of the last annual town meeting unless the location is changed by the town board. If the town board changes the location, it shall publish a class 2 notice under
ch. 985 stating the location of the meeting, not more than 20 nor less than 15 days before the date of the meeting.
60.11(4)
(4) Adjournment. The annual town meeting may be recessed to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30 days after the date of the meeting originally scheduled under
sub. (2).
60.11(5)
(5) Notice. No public notice of an annual town meeting is required if held as provided under
sub. (2) (a). If held as provided under
sub. (2) (b), notice of the time and date of the meeting shall be given under
s. 60.12 (3).
60.11(6)
(6) Jurisdiction. An annual town meeting may transact any business over which a town meeting has jurisdiction.
60.11(7)
(7) Poll list. An annual town meeting may require the clerk of the town meeting to keep a poll list with the name and address of every elector voting at the meeting. If an elector of the town obtains a confidential listing under
s. 6.47 (2) and presents an identification card issued under
s. 6.47 (3), the clerk shall record the identification serial number of the elector in lieu of the elector's address.
60.11 History
History: 1983 a. 532;
1999 a. 49.
60.12
60.12
Special town meetings. 60.12(1)
(1)
Who may convene. A special town meeting may be convened if:
60.12(1)(b)
(b) A written request, signed by a number of electors equal to not less than 10% of the votes cast in the town for governor at the last general election, is filed with the town clerk.
60.12(2)
(2) Time, date and purpose to be stated. If a special town meeting is requested or called under
sub. (1), the time, date and purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the request or as part of the call.
60.12(3)
(3) Notice. The town clerk shall, not more than 20 nor less than 15 days before the date of a special town meeting, publish a class 2 notice of the meeting under
ch. 985. The notice shall state the purpose, date, time and location of the meeting. If notice is posted, the same time and content requirements apply.
60.12(4)(a)(a) A special town meeting may be held in the town or in any village or city within or adjoining the town.
60.12(4)(b)
(b) A special town meeting shall be held where the preceding annual town meeting was held, unless the location is changed by the town board.
60.12(5)
(5) Adjournment. A special town meeting may be recessed to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30 days after the date of the originally scheduled meeting.
60.12(6)
(6) Jurisdiction. Any business which may be transacted at an annual town meeting may be transacted at a special town meeting.
60.12 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.13
60.13
Presiding officer. 60.13(1)(a)(a) If present, the town board chairperson shall chair the town meeting. If the town board chairperson is absent, another town board supervisor shall chair the town meeting. If no town board supervisor is present, the town meeting shall elect the chairperson of the meeting.
60.13(1)(b)
(b) If the annual town meeting is held in a year when the office of town board chairperson is filled by election, the person holding the office on the day prior to the date of the election to fill the office shall preside at the annual town meeting and is entitled to receive the per diem which is ordinarily paid to the presiding officer. If such person is absent or refuses to serve as the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall be chosen under
par. (a).
60.13(2)
(2) Duties. The town meeting chairperson shall conduct the meeting's proceedings in accordance with accepted parliamentary procedure.
60.13(3)
(3) Enforcement authority. The town meeting chairperson shall maintain order and decorum, and may order any person to leave a town meeting if the person has conducted himself or herself in a disorderly manner and persisted in such conduct after being directed by the chairperson to cease the conduct. If the person refuses the chairperson's order to withdraw, the town meeting chairperson may order a constable or other law enforcement officer to take the person into custody until the meeting is adjourned.
60.13 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.14(1)(1)
Qualified voters. Any qualified elector of the town, as defined under
ch. 6, may vote at a town meeting.
60.14(2)
(2) Method of action; necessary votes. All actions of a town meeting shall be by vote. All questions shall be decided by a majority of the electors voting.
60.14(3)
(3) Order of business. At the beginning of the town meeting, the town meeting chairperson shall state the business to be transacted and the order in which the business will be considered. No proposal to levy a tax, except a tax for defraying necessary town expenses, may be acted on out of the order stated by the town meeting chairperson.
60.14(4)
(4) Reconsideration of actions. 60.14(4)(a)(a) A vote of the town meeting may be reconsidered at the same meeting at which the vote was taken if the town meeting votes to reconsider within one hour after the initial vote was taken.
60.14(4)(b)
(b) No action of a town meeting may be reconsidered at a subsequent town meeting held prior to the next annual town meeting unless a special town meeting is convened under
s. 60.12 (1) (b) or
(c) and the written request or the call for the meeting states that a purpose of the meeting is reconsideration of the action.
60.14 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.15
60.15
Clerk. The town clerk shall serve as clerk of the town meeting. If the town clerk is absent, the deputy town clerk shall serve as town meeting clerk. If the deputy clerk is absent, the town meeting chairperson shall appoint a clerk for the meeting. The clerk of the town meeting shall keep minutes of the proceedings. The clerk of the town meeting shall keep a poll list if required by the annual town meeting under
s. 60.11 (7). The town meeting minutes shall be signed by the clerk of the town meeting and filed in the office of the town clerk within 5 days after the meeting.
60.15 History
History: 1983 a. 532.
60.16
60.16
First town meeting in new towns. 60.16(1)
(1)
When held. The first town meeting in a newly organized town shall be held at 8 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of the first April after the town is organized. If the 2nd Tuesday of the first April after a town is organized has passed and the first town meeting has not been held, 3 qualified electors of the town may call the first town meeting any time thereafter by posting notice of the town meeting in at least 3 public places at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.
60.16(2)
(2) Where held. The first town meeting shall be held at the location designated in the documents which established the town. The location may be within the town or, if convenient, within a city or village in the county in which the town is located.
60.16(3)
(3) Officers. The qualified electors present at the first town meeting shall choose one elector as chairperson of the town meeting, 2 electors as inspectors and one elector as clerk. The inspectors and clerk shall take and sign the oath required of inspectors at elections under
s. 7.30 (5). The oath may be administered to the inspectors and clerk by the chairperson and either inspector may then administer the oath to the chairperson. After they have signed the oath, the chairperson, clerk and inspectors shall conduct the first town meeting.
60.16(4)
(4) Jurisdiction. The first town meeting may conduct any business that a town meeting may conduct under
ss. 60.11 and
60.12.
60.16 History
History: 1983 a. 532,
538.
TOWN BOARD
