City of Northampton, MA Charter

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City of Northampton, MA

Hampshire County

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter C Charter

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[HISTORY: Approved by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 9-12-2012 (Acts of 2012, Chapter 277); ratified by the voters of the City of Northampton 11-6-2012.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 - Related Laws

Editor's Note: This act also superseded the City's former Charter, adopted by the House of Representatives 6-20-1883 (Acts of 1883, Chapter 250), approved 6-23-1883, as amended.

Article 1 INCORPORATION; SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1-1 INCORPORATION

SECTION 1-2 SHORT TITLE

SECTION 1-3 DIVISION OF POWERS

SECTION 1-4 POWERS OF THE CITY

SECTION 1-5 CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 1-6 INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

SECTION 1-7 DEFINITIONS

Article 2 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

SECTION 2-1 COMPOSITION; TERM OF OFFICE; ELIGIBILITY

SECTION 2-2 PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT, ELECTION; TERM; POWERS

SECTION 2-3 PROHIBITIONS

SECTION 2-4 COMPENSATION

SECTION 2-5 GENERAL POWERS

SECTION 2-6 EXERCISE OF POWERS; QUORUM; RULES

SECTION 2-7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION

SECTION 2-8 APPOINTMENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

SECTION 2-9 ORDINANCES AND OTHER MEASURES

SECTION 2-10 CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION OF CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS

SECTION 2-11 FILLING OF VACANCIES

Article 3 EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SECTION 3-1 MAYOR: QUALIFICATIONS; TERM OF OFFICE; COMPENSATION; PROHIBITIONS

SECTION 3-2 EXECUTIVE POWERS; ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES

SECTION 3-3 APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR

SECTION 3-4 TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS TO CITY OFFICES

SECTION 3-5 COMMUNICATIONS; SPECIAL MEETINGS

SECTION 3-6 APPROVAL OF MAYOR, VETO

SECTION 3-7 TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR

SECTION 3-8 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY BY MAYOR

SECTION 3-9 VACANCY IN OFFICE OF MAYOR

Article 4 SCHOOL COMMITTEE

SECTION 4-1 COMPOSITION; TERM OF OFFICE; ELIGIBILITY

SECTION 4-2 SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

SECTION 4-3 PROHIBITIONS

SECTION 4-4 COMPENSATION

SECTION 4-5 SCHOOL COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 4-6 FILLING OF VACANCIES

Article 5 OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS

SECTION 5-1 TRUSTEES UNDER THE WILL OF CHARLES E. FORBES

SECTION 5-2 ELECTOR UNDER THE OLIVER SMITH WILL

SECTION 5-3 TRUSTEES OF SMITH VOCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

SECTION 5-4 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

Article 6 ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION

SECTION 6-1 ORGANIZATION OF CITY AGENCIES

SECTION 6-2 MERIT PRINCIPLES

Article 6A BOARD OF HEALTH

Article 7 FINANCE AND FISCAL PROCEDURES

SECTION 7-1 FISCAL YEAR

SECTION 7-2 ANNUAL BUDGET POLICY

SECTION 7-3 SUBMISSION OF OPERATING BUDGET; BUDGET MESSAGE

SECTION 7-4 ACTION ON THE OPERATING BUDGET

SECTION 7-5 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

SECTION 7-6 INDEPENDENT AUDIT

SECTION 7-7 EXPENDITURES IN EXCESS OF APPROPRIATIONS

Article 8 ELECTIONS

SECTION 8-1 PRELIMINARY ELECTIONS

SECTION 8-2 PRELIMINARY ELECTION PROCEDURES

SECTION 8-3 REGULAR CITY ELECTION

SECTION 8-4 BALLOT POSITION, REGULAR CITY ELECTION

SECTION 8-5 NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS

SECTION 8-6 WARDS

SECTION 8-7 CANDIDATES FOR REELECTION

SECTION 8-8 APPLICATION OF STATE GENERAL LAWS

Article 9 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION MECHANISMS

SECTION 9-1 CITIZEN INITIATIVE MEASURES

SECTION 9-2 CITIZEN REFERENDUM PROCEDURES

SECTION 9-3 INELIGIBLE MEASURES

SECTION 9-4 REQUIRED VOTER PARTICIPATION

SECTION 9-5 SUBMISSION OF OTHER MATTERS TO VOTERS

SECTION 9-6 CONFLICTING PROVISIONS

Article 10 GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 10-1 CHARTER CHANGES

SECTION 10-2 SEVERABILITY

SECTION 10-3 SPECIFIC PROVISION TO PREVAIL

SECTION 10-4 RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION 10-5 PERIODIC REVIEW OF ORDINANCES

SECTION 10-6 PERIODIC REVIEW OF CHARTER

SECTION 10-7 UNIFORM PROCEDURES GOVERNING MULTIPLE-MEMBER BODIES

SECTION 10-8 NUMBER AND GENDER

SECTION 10-9 REFERENCES TO GENERAL LAWS

SECTION 10-10 COMPUTATION OF TIME

SECTION 10-11 OATHS OR AFFIRMATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, CITY CLERK

SECTION 10-12 CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT

SECTION 10-13 LIMITATION ON OFFICE HOLDING

SECTION 10-14 FELONY CONVICTION

SECTION 10-15 ENFORCEMENT OF CHARTER PROVISIONS

Article 11 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 11-1 CONTINUATION OF EXISTING LAWS

SECTION 11-2 CONTINUATION OF GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 11-3 TRANSFER OF RECORDS AND PROPERTY

SECTION 11-4 EFFECT ON OBLIGATIONS, TAXES, ETC.