The inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth, within the territorial
limits established by law, shall continue to be a municipal corporation,
a body corporate and politic, under the name "Town of Weymouth."
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Weymouth
Home Rule Charter.
The administration of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs
of Weymouth, with the government thereof, shall be vested in an executive/administrative
branch headed by a mayor and a legislative branch to consist of a
town council. The legislative branch shall never exercise any executive/administrative
power and the executive/administrative branch shall never exercise
any legislative power.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power
or function by a municipal government in the constitution or general
laws of the Commonwealth, it is the intention and the purpose of the
voters of Weymouth through the adoption of this charter to secure
for themselves and their government all of the powers it is possible
to secure as fully and as completely as though each such power were
specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The powers of the Town of Weymouth under this charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the town, and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers of the town as stated in section 1-4.
Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or general
laws of the Commonwealth, Weymouth may exercise any of its powers
or perform any of its functions, and may participate in the financing
thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with
the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or
with the United States government or any agency thereof.
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in
which the word or phrase is used, the following words and phrases
as used in this charter shall have the following meanings:
(a)
Charter - The word "charter" shall mean this charter
and any amendment to it hereafter adopted.
(b)
Emergency - The word "emergency" shall mean a sudden,
unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence or condition which necessitates
immediate action or response.
(c)
Full Council, Full Multiple Member Body - The words
"full council" or "full multiple member body" shall mean the entire
authorized complement of the town council, school committee or other
multiple member body notwithstanding any vacancy which might exist.
(d)
general laws - The words "general laws" (all lower case
letters) shall mean laws enacted by the state legislature which apply
alike to all cities and towns, to all cities, or to a class of two
or more cities and or cities and towns of which Weymouth is a member.
(e)
General Laws - The words "General Laws" (initial letter
of each word in upper case letters) shall mean the General Laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a codification and revision of
statutes enacted on December 22, 1920, and including all amendments
thereto subsequently adopted.
(f)
Initiative Measure - The words "initiative measure"
shall mean a measure proposed by the voters through the initiative
process provided under this charter.
(g)
Local Newspaper - The words "local newspaper" shall
mean a newspaper of general circulation within Weymouth, with either
a weekly or daily circulation.
(h)
Majority Vote - The words "majority vote" when used
in connection with a meeting of a multiple member body shall mean
a majority of those present and voting, unless another provision is
made by ordinance, by law, or by its own rules.
(i)
Measure - The word "measure" shall mean any ordinance,
order, resolution, or other vote or proceeding adopted, or which might
be adopted by the town council or the school committee.
(j)
Multiple Member Body - The words "multiple member body"
shall mean any board, commission, committee, sub-committee or other
body consisting of two or more persons whether elected, appointed
or otherwise constituted, but not including the town council or the
school committee.
(k)
Organization or Reorganization Plan - The words "organization
or reorganization plan" shall mean a plan submitted by the mayor to
the town council which proposes a change in the organization of the
administrative structure of the town government, or to change the
way in which a municipal service, or services are delivered. Such
plan may be complex and consist of many parts, or, it may simple and
brief.
(l)
Quorum - The word "quorum" shall mean a majority of
all members of a multiple member body unless some other number is
required by law or by ordinance.
(m)
Referendum Measure - The words "referendum measure"
shall mean a measure adopted by the town council or the school committee
that is protested under the referendum procedures of this charter.
(n)
Town - The word "town" shall mean the town of Weymouth.
(o)
Town Agency - The words "town agency" shall mean any
multiple member body, any department, division, or office of the town
of Weymouth.
(p)
Town Bulletin Boards - The words "town bulletin boards"
shall mean the bulletin board in the town hall on which the town clerk
posts official notices of meetings and upon which other official town
notices are posted, and the bulletin boards at any other locations
as may be designated town bulletin boards by the town council.
(q)
Town Officer - The words "town officer" when used without
further qualification or description, shall mean a person having charge
of an office or department of the town who in the exercise of the
powers or duties of such position exercises some portion of the sovereign
power of the town.
(r)
Voters - The word "voters" shall mean registered voters
of the town of Weymouth.
