(a)
Elective Offices. The offices to be filled by the voters shall be
the Town Council, School Committee, Town Moderator, the Board of Assessors,
Town Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Planning Board, Board of Health,
Housing Authority, Board of Library Trustees, Municipal Gas and Light
Commissioners and three (3) Constables. Such other regional authorities,
districts, or committees as may be established by law or interlocal
agreement may also be filled by the voters.
(b)
Eligibility. Any voter shall be eligible to hold any elective Town
office, but no person shall simultaneously hold more than one elective
Town office.
(c)
Election. The regular elections for Town officers shall be held annually
on the fourth Tuesday in April, or on such date as may from time to
time be fixed in the by-laws of the Town.
(d)
Compensation. Elected Town officers shall receive such compensation
for their services as may be appropriated, annually, for such purpose.
(e)
Vacancies in Office. Unless otherwise provided by this charter, any
vacancy in any elective office shall be filled in the manner provided
by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 41.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Town Council composed
of seven (7) members elected, at large, for terms of three (3) years
each, so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number of members
as is possible shall expire each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties - In General. The executive authority of the Town
shall be vested in the Town Council which shall be deemed to be the
chief executive office in the Town. The Town Council shall be the
chief policy making agency of the Town and shall have all the powers
and duties given to a board of selectmen as may be authorized by the
laws of the Commonwealth, by this charter, by bylaw or by other vote
of the Town Meeting, except those powers granted to the Town Administrator
under this charter. It is the intent of this charter that the Town
Council be identical in all but name to a board of selectmen, as that
term is used in Massachusetts law. Members of the Town Council shall
be known as "Councilors." The Town Council shall act by the issuance
of policy guidelines and directives. It is the intention of this provision
that the Town Council shall act only through the adoption of policy
directives and guidelines which are to be implemented by the officers
and employees appointed by or under its authority. The Town Administrator
shall be the primary officer responsible for the implementation of
policy directives and guidelines adopted by the Town Council. The
daily administration of the affairs of the Town shall be the exclusive
responsibility of the Town Administrator.
[Amended 11-6-2017 RTM
by Art. 5]
(c)
Appointment Powers. The Town Council shall appoint a Town Administrator,
Town Counsel, Advisory Board of Public Works, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Recreation Commission,
Board of Registrars of Voters, all Poll Workers, Town Meeting workers,
and Wardens (but not including the Town Clerk). The Town Council shall
also appoint such other multiple member bodies as may be provided
by by-law, by the laws of the Commonwealth or by this Charter.
(d)
Approval Powers. The following positions shall be filled by appointment
by the Town Administrator as provided in this charter, subject to
the approval of the Town Council: Police Chief, Fire Chief, civil
service positions within the police department, civil service positions
within the fire department, Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector,
Wire Inspector, Parking Clerk, Director of the Council on Aging, Director
of the Department of Public Works, Recreation Director, and staff
of the Town Council. The Town Council shall also have approval powers
over the appointment of such other positions as may be provided by
by-law.
(e)
Licensing Authority. The Town Council shall be the licensing authority
of the Town and shall have all the power to issue licenses as otherwise
authorized by law, to make all necessary rules and regulations regarding
the issuance of such licenses, to attach conditions and restrictions
on any such license it may issue as it deems to be in the public interest,
and to enforce all laws relating to all such businesses for which
it issues any licenses.
(f)
Investigative Powers. The Town Council may investigate or may authorize
the Town Administrator to investigate the affairs of the Town and
the conduct of any Town agency, and to take any appropriate action.
A report of the results of such investigation shall be placed on file
in the office of the Town Council and shall be published in the Annual
Report.
(a)
Term of Office. A Town Moderator shall be elected by the voters for
a term of three (3) years.
[Amended 11-5-2018 RTM
by Art. 30]
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Town Moderator shall be the presiding officer
of all Town Meetings, regulate their proceedings, decide all questions
of order, make public declaration of all votes, and shall have such
additional powers and duties as may be provided for that office by
law of the Commonwealth, by this charter, by by-law, or by other vote
of Town Meeting. No person may address a Town Meeting without leave
of the Moderator. The Moderator shall be a member of the Finance Committee
Selection Committee, responsible for the appointment of the members
of the Finance Committee, as provided by this charter.
(a)
Term of Office. A Town Clerk shall be elected by the voters for a
term of three (3) years.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Town Clerk shall be the keeper of vital statistics
of the Town, the custodian of the Town seal and of all records of
the Town, shall administer the oath of office to all Town officers,
shall issue licenses and permits as may be provided by law, and shall
be responsible for the conduct of elections and all matters relating
thereto. The Town Clerk shall have the powers and duties provided
that office by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this charter, by by-law,
or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Clerk of Town Meeting. The Town Clerk shall serve as the Clerk of
all special and standing Town Meetings, as provided by this charter,
by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(d)
Staff. The staff of the Town Clerk shall be appointed by the Town
Administrator, upon recommendation of the Town Clerk.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Board of Assessors
composed of three (3) members elected to terms of three (3) years
each, so arranged that the term of one (1) member expires each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Board of Assessors shall have the powers and
duties set forth for such Boards by the laws of the Commonwealth,
by this charter, by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Staff. The Board of Assessors shall appoint a Director of Assessments.
The staff of the Board of Assessors shall be appointed by the Town
Administrator, upon recommendation of the Director of Assessments.
(a)
Term of Office. A Tax Collector shall be elected by the voters for
a term of three (3) years.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Collector shall have the powers and duties
set forth for that office by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this
charter, by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Staff. The Collector's staff shall be appointed by the Town Administrator,
upon the recommendation of the Collector.
(a)
Term of Office. A Treasurer shall be elected by the voters for a
term of three years.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Treasurer shall have the powers and duties
set forth for that office by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this
charter, by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Staff. The Treasurer's staff shall be appointed by the Town Administrator,
upon the recommendation of the Treasurer.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a School Committee composed
of seven (7) members elected for terms of three (3) years each, so
arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number of members as
is possible expire each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The School Committee shall have all the powers
and duties school committees may have under the Constitution and laws
of the Commonwealth, and it shall have such additional powers and
duties as may be authorized by this charter, by by-law, or by other
vote of Town Meeting. The powers of the School Committee shall include,
but need not be limited to:
(1)
the power to appoint and terminate a superintendent of schools,
and all other officers and employees associated with the schools except
as otherwise provided by the laws of the Commonwealth, fix their compensation,
define their duties, and discharge them; and,
(2)
the power to make all reasonable rules and regulations, consistent
with law, for the administration and management of the public schools
of the Town.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Board of Health composed
of three (3) members, elected for terms of three (3) years each, so
arranged that the term of one (1) member expires each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Board of Health shall be responsible for the
formulation and enforcement of rules and regulations affecting the
public health. It shall have all the powers and duties given to boards
of health by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this charter, by by-law,
or by other vote of Town Meeting.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection (c), Staff, was repealed
11-5-2018 RTM by Art. 33.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Planning Board composed
of five (5) members elected for terms of five (5) years each, so arranged
that the terms of as nearly an equal number of members as is possible
expire each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Planning Board shall make careful studies
of the resources, possibilities and needs of the Town, and shall make
plans for the development of the Town. The Board shall have the power
to make a comprehensive or master plan, setting forth in graphic and
textual form policies to govern the future growth and development
of the Town. The Board shall have the power to regulate the subdivision
of land within the Town by the enactment of rules and regulations.
The Planning Board shall make recommendations to the Town Meeting
on all proposed warrant articles which affect land use and development,
including, but not limited to, proposals to amend the zoning by-law
and zoning map. The Planning Board shall have all the powers and duties
given to planning boards by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this
charter, by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Staff. If such positions are budgeted by Town Meeting, the Town Planner
and the staff of the Planning Board shall be appointed by the Town
Administrator.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Housing Authority composed
of five members who shall be elected and appointed in accordance within
M.G.L. c. 121B, §§ 5 and 5a.
[Amended 11-5-2018 RTM
by Art. 34]
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Housing Authority shall make studies of the
housing needs of the Town and shall provide programs for housing.
The Housing Authority shall have all the powers and duties given to
housing authorities under the laws of the Commonwealth, by by-law,
or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Board of Library Trustees
composed of nine (9) members elected for terms of three (3) years,
so arranged that the terms of three (3) of the members expire each
year.
(b)
Powers and Duties. The Board of Library Trustees shall have control
over the selection of library materials, and have custody and management
of such. All money and property that the Town may receive for library
purposes by gift or bequest shall be administered by the Board in
accordance with the provisions of the gift or bequest. The Board shall
continue to exercise all the powers and duties vested in the Board
of Library Trustees by the laws of the Commonwealth, by this charter,
by by-law, or by other vote of Town Meeting.
(c)
Staff. The Board of Library Trustees shall appoint a Library Director,
who shall appoint all other library staff.
[Amended 11-5-2018 RTM
by Art. 35]
(a)
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Municipal Gas and Light
Commission composed of five (5) members elected for terms of three
(3) years, so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number
of members as is possible expire each year.
(b)
Powers and Duties
|
The Municipal Gas and Light Commission shall have charge of
all of the real estate, facilities, personnel and equipment of the
Town pertaining to the production and transmission of electrical and
gas power, both within the Town and elsewhere.
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The Municipal Gas and Light Commission shall have all of the
powers and duties given to cities and towns in respect to municipal
lighting and gas plants under M.G.L. Chapter 164, s. 34 et seq. and
other general and special acts pertaining thereto.
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