The Town Moderator is elected by Dalton residents for a term of one year to preside over all Annual and Special Town Meetings.

On March 14, 1743, the first recorded Town Meeting in America was held at Faneuil Hall in Boston. This real democracy form of conducting a town’s business is still in use today by towns throughout our Commonwealth.

In Dalton we use an Open Town Meeting which allows Townspeople to attend Annual Meetings to discuss and vote items on the warrant. Special Town Meetings are held throughout the fiscal year on an as-needed basis to conduct business that was not ready to be decided at the annual meeting, or becomes necessary at a later date.