In what way were town meetings important to the development of local government? how might they have the growth of representative government?

Town meetings are a form of public forum where inn people gathered and shared similar opinion and even voted for a person whom they thought would do well for the local community. It is a form of local governance.

Explanation:

It is a form of direct democracy that is followed in the local community. People of great knowledge and those who hold esteemed office of the local community gathered together and shared similar opinions of a particular person whom they think would be beneficial and hence voted for that person.

It is practiced from seventeenth century in New England colonies of United States. The residents of the local community gather once a year and they vote for a person execute budgets and supervises the operations of the community.  

a social contract.

"a social contract is an agreement between citizens and their leader where the citizens give up certain freedoms in exchange for protection. the constitution of the united states is an example of a social contract."

not really sure i needed the points. sorry