Town Meeting is Brookline's Legislative arm of government. It consists of 240 elected town meeting members plus the members of the Board of Selectmen, and any state representative or state senator who resides in Brookline. In addition, the Town Moderator, who presides over town meeting, and the Town Clerk, who acts secretary, are voting members. The 240 are elected by precinct, with 15 members elected from each of the town's sixteen precincts. The members are elected for staggered, 3-year terms so that 5 members are elected from each precinct each year in the May annual town election.
Town meeting is responsible for passing a balanced annual town budget, and enacts all town bylaws.
An Annual Town Meeting is held in the spring to enact the following year's budget, plus whatever other matters are placed on the Town Meeting Warrant, eithcr by the Seletmen or by citizen petition . The Annual Town Meeting is usually held the last week in May or the first week in June. A Special Town Meeting is held each fall, usually in November, to deal with any budget changes, zoning bylaw amendments or other matters placed on the warrant. See the Town Meeting Members Handbook for more information on Town Meeting and its procedures. Although only elected town meeting members may vote and propose motions, the public is invited to attend and the sessions are carried live on Brookline Access Television.