Get Involved In Your Town!

The Town of Shirley holds an annual town meeting, ATM, in May of each year. In 2026, the ATM will take place at 7:15 p.m., Monday, May 11. A special town meeting, STM, is normally scheduled for late October or November, and additional STMs are held as needed during the year whenever voter action is required.

All town meetings take place in the auditorium of the Ayer-Shirley Regional Middle School at 1 Hospital Road.

Each town meeting is open to all who wish to attend, but only Shirley registered voters may speak, make motions, and vote. The last day to do so in order to be able to vote at the May 11 Annual Meeting is May 1, explained below.

New England town meetings are often called the purest form of democracy since they give each resident a direct vote in decisions that affect them and thus maximize their influence in town affairs. At town meetings, voters exercise traditional powers of the legislative branch of government, including enacting bylaws and approving budgets and capital expenditures. The town moderator, an elected official, runs meetings, and each meeting proceeds in a timely and efficient manner while providing every voter who wishes to speak a chance to do so.

Topics for town meetings are listed on the warrant, a list that describes each warrant article to be discussed. At least a week or two prior to a meeting, the town clerk website provides town meeting warrants for review under the heading TownMeeting Information. The town clerk posts hard copies for review at the town office building, Hazen Memorial Library, post office, and senior center.

For questions regarding topics that will be discussed at town meetings or about town meeting procedures, contact either the town clerk at 978-425-2600 extension 1 or the office of the town administrator at 978-425-2600 extension 200.

Residents should register to vote by May 1 for annual town meeting. If you’re already registered to vote in Shirley, potential participants are all set. Those needing to register must do so by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, in order to vote at the May 11 ATM.

One must register vote only once to participate in town meetings and all town, state, and federal elections, provided registered voters return the Annual Street Listing Form as required.

To register to vote, complete theVoter Registration Form at theTown Clerk’s Office or contact the office if you request one mailed, or register online through the state website at sec.state.ma.us/OVR/.