This charter may be replaced, revised or amended in accordance
with any procedures made available under the Constitution of the Commonwealth
and any laws of the Commonwealth enacted to implement said constitutional
provisions.
This charter may be revised or amended through the enactment
of special laws by the General Court on petition filed or approved
by the voters of the Town or the Town Meeting in accordance with Article
LXXXIX (89) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
The provisions of this charter are severable. If any of the
provisions of this charter are held to be unconstitutional, or invalid,
the remaining provisions of this charter shall not be affected thereby.
If the application of this charter, or any of its provisions, to any
person or circumstances is held to be invalid, the application of
said charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances
shall not be affected thereby.
The following rules shall apply when interpreting the charter:
(a)
Specific provisions to prevail. To the extent that any specific provision
of the charter shall conflict with any provision expressed in general
terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
(b)
Number and Gender. Words imparting the singular number may extend
and be applied to several persons or things; words imparting the plural
number may include the singular; words imparting the masculine gender
shall include the feminine gender.
(c)
References to General Laws. All references to the laws of the Commonwealth
contained in the charter refer to the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and are intended to include any amendments or revisions
to such chapters and sections or to the corresponding chapters and
sections of any rearrangement of the general laws enacted subsequent
to the adoption of the charter.
(d)
Computation of Time. Unless otherwise provided, in computing time
under this charter, if seven (7) days or less, only business days,
not including Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays shall be counted;
if more than seven (7) days, every day shall be counted.
[Amended 11-5-2018 RTM
by Art. 28]
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in
which the word is used, the following words as used in the charter
shall have the following meanings:
(a)
Charter - The word "charter" shall mean this charter and any amendments
to it made through any methods provided under Article LXXXIX (89)
of the Amendments of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
(b)
Town - The word "Town" shall mean the Town of Wakefield.
(c)
Voters - The word "voters" shall mean registered voters of the Town.
(d)
Majority Vote - The words "majority vote" shall mean a majority of
those present and voting, provided a quorum is present when a vote
is taken, unless another number is required by the laws of the Commonwealth,
by this charter, or by the Town Meeting's own rules.
(e)
Town Agency or Agency - The words "Town agency" or the word "agency"
shall mean any board, council, commission, committee, department or
office of Town government, whether elected, appointed or otherwise
constituted.
[Amended 11-6-2017 RTM
by Art. 5]
(f)
Multiple Member Body - The words '"multiple member body'" shall mean
any board, council, commission or committee.
[Amended 11-6-2017 RTM
by Art. 5]
(g)
Written Notice - Whenever written notice to any person may or shall
be given under this charter, such notice may be accomplished by email,
provided that the recipient has agreed in writing to receive notices
by email, and further provided that nothing herein shall supersede
any requirement of state or federal law concerning the manner in which
notice must be given in any particular circumstances.
[Added 11-5-2018 RTM by Art. 32[1]]
(a)
Charter Review. At least once in every ten (10) years, in each year
ending in an eight (8), a special committee shall be appointed by
the Town Council for the purpose of reviewing this charter and to
make a report, with recommendations, to the Town Meeting, concerning
any proposed amendments which said committee may determine to be necessary
or desirable.
(b)
By-Law Review. The Town Council shall, at five (5) year intervals,
in each year ending in a two (2) or in a seven (7), appoint a special
committee for the purpose of reviewing the Town by-laws and to make
a report, with recommendations, to the Town Meeting, concerning any
proposed revision, recodification, or amendment which said committee
may determine to be necessary or desirable.
