Town meeting - Who is running this town?

I was just at the town meeting, and sometimes wonder if I see the world as others do.  They voted to increase taxes, by adding a meals tax.  They voted to add a curfew to all town property, but the police chief said that he would selectively enforce that.  They voted to require that some businesses in town hold all their products in the building for 30 days before they can sell them, but there is a special way to be allowed to see the items themselves, they can go to the police station, and the chief will tell them what they can and cannot sell that week.  There were other wonderful items that came up as well.  What are some of the impressions or results you got from that meeting?

In fact, while 150 people are needed to start the meeting, that number is never checked again, and frequently the total votes cast in any article prove that far less people are there.

Also, while people stand to vote on some issues, they are counted and the little count slips are brought to the stage.  I sit in the front row, and watch how many times they are counted, and counted, and the town management scowls, then they are counted again, and a number is scribbled out, then the town management smiles, and the results are read.  I always wonder what is going on during this activity.

I think it might be much easier and more transparent to have the voters stand, and count off.  Then at the end of each vote, everyone in the room will know exactly how many votes for each side were recorded.  And a video record will exist as well.  I asked, and was told it was not allowed.