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The
most notable feature of town government is the town
meeting. Because the town residents have direct
input into the operation of the town through the
town meeting, town government is closer to a pure
democracy than any other established form of
government in Minnesota.
Each
town is required to hold an annual town meeting the
second Tuesday in March. Minn. Stat. 365.51. The
time for the annual meeting is set at the previous
annual town meeting. If the meeting must be
cancelled due to inclement weather, it is
re-scheduled for the third Tuesday in March. What is
unique about the annual town meeting is that it is
the people's meeting. The town residents literally
run the meeting through a moderator selected from
among those present. Minn. Stat, 365.56. While an
agenda is developed before the meeting by the Town
Board with certain items of business that must be
decided, the residents have the opportunity to raise
any other item of town business to the floor for
discussion and possible action. Whether the town
board is legally bound by the decisions at the
annual town meeting depends on the issue being
decided.
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