Town of Northbridge, MA Financial Regulations

The Town Manager shall be the Chief Procurement Officer of the Town of Northbridge for purposes of MGL c. 30B and, in addition, shall have all of the powers of a purchasing agent, as provided in MGL c. 41, § 103. The Town Manager, acting as Chief Procurement Officer and as purchasing agent, may delegate all or any portion of the responsibility for purchases and procurements to other officers and agencies but, notwithstanding any such delegation, shall retain the authority to supervise every purchase and procurement.

§ 5-102 Trust Funds.

The Town Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds given or bequeathed to the Town for any purpose and shall manage and invest such sums in the same manner and with the same restrictions as apply to how other municipal funds are managed and invested. The Town Treasurer shall annually file a report which shall be printed in the annual Town report, which shows the beginning balance in each fund, the interest earned during the year just ended, the amount expended (and unless an account is given elsewhere, the purposes for which such funds were expended) and the ending balance in each such account.

§ 5-103 Employee off-duty work details.

All money received by the Town as compensation for work performed by one of its employees on an off-duty work detail shall be deposited in the Town treasury and kept in a fund separate from other municipal funds. As provided in MGL c. 44, § 53C, the funds in such account may be used, without further appropriation, to compensate the employee for such services. A surcharge of 10% shall be added to the fee charged by the municipal agency for the service which shall be paid by the person requesting the service. This fee shall be to cover the cost of administering the fund.

§ 5-104 Disposal of surplus property.

Personal property. Subject to such regulations regarding such disposition as may be promulgated by the Town Manager, the disposal of surplus personal property shall be governed by the provisions of MGL c. 30B, § 15.

Real property. Subject to such regulations regarding such disposition as may be promulgated by the Town Manager, the disposal of surplus real property shall be governed by the provisions of MGL c. 30B, § 16.

§ 5-105 Restriction on use of municipal vehicles.

Town-owned vehicles are to be used only for the conduct and furtherance of Town business and for no other purpose. No Town vehicle shall in any circumstances be used for personal purposes.

§ 5-106 Town Clerk's fees.

The fees to be charged by Town Clerks for recording various documents and providing copies of documents and records are set out in detail in MGL c. 262, § 34. The said section authorizes towns, by bylaw, to charge fees different than those established in the said c. 262, § 34. The Town of Northbridge does hereby adopt the following schedule of fees to apply in the office of its Town Clerk.

The following fees are hereby established and shall be collected by the Town Clerk in lieu of the fees otherwise provided:

[Amended 10-24-2006 ATM, Art. 23]

Service		Fee
(1)	For filing and indexing assignment for benefit of creditors	$10.00
(11)	For entering amendment of a record of the birth of child born out of wedlock subsequently legitimized	$10.00
(12)	For correcting errors in a record of birth	$10.00
(13)	For furnishing certificate of a birth	$10.00
(13A)	For furnishing an abstract copy of a record	$10.00
(14)	For entering delayed record of birth	$10.00
(20)	For filing certificate of a person conducting business under any title other than his real name	$25.00
(21)	For filing, by a person conducting business under any title other than his real name, of a statement of change of his residence or of his discontinuance, retirement or withdrawal from or of a change of location of such business	No charge
(22)	For furnishing a certified copy of a certificate of a person conducting business under any title other than his real name or a statement by such person of his discontinuance, retirement or withdrawal from such business	$5.00
(24)	For recording the name and address, the date and number of the certificate issued to a person registered for the practice of podiatry in the commonwealth	$25.00
(25)	For correcting errors in a record of death	$10.00
(30)	For furnishing a certificate of death	$10.00
(30A)	For furnishing an abstract copy of a record of death	$10.00
(37)	For issuing and recording licenses to keepers of intelligence offices	$25.00
(38A)	For issuing and recording licenses to junk collectors	$50.00
(39)	For issuing and recording pawnbrokers' license	$100.00
(42)	For entering notice of intention of marriage and issuing certificates thereof	$20.00
(43)	For entering certificate of marriage filed by persons married out of the commonwealth	$5.00
(44)	For issuing a certificate of marriage	$10.00
(44A)	For furnishing an abstract copy of a record of marriage	$10.00
(45)	For correcting errors in a record of marriage	$10.00
(54)	For recording power of attorney	$10.00
(57)	For recording a certificate of registration granted to a person to engage in the practice of optometry or issuing a certified copy thereof	$25.00
(58)	For recording the name of the owner of a certificate of registration as a physician or osteopath in the commonwealth	$25.00
(62)	For recording an order granting locations of poles, piers, abutments or conduits, alterations or transfers thereof, and an increase in number of wires and cable or attachments under the provisions of MGL c. 166, § 22	$40.00
	Additional streets	$10.00
(66)	For examining records or papers relating to birth, marriage or deaths upon the application of any person, the actual expense thereof, but not less than $5	$5.00
(67)	For copying any manuscript or record pertaining to a birth, marriage or death (per page)	$5.00
(69)	For receiving and filing of a complete inventory of all items to be included in a closing-out sale, etc. (first page)	$10.00
	For each additional page	$2.00
(75)	For filing a copy of a written instrument or declaration of trust by the trustees of an association or trust or any amendment thereof as provided by MGL c. 182§ 2	$20.00
(78)	For recording a deed of lot or plot in a public burial or cemetery (first page)	$10.00
(79)	Recording any other documents (first page)	$10.00
	Each additional page	$2.00

Additional fees to be charged by Town Clerk:

[Added 10-24-2006 ATM, Art. 23]

Notarization and associated services fee, per document:

$1.25

§ 5-107 Fees and charges by municipal agencies.

Any municipal agency which is otherwise authorized to issue a license, certificate or permit, or to render a service or to perform work for a person or class of persons, may from time to time fix a reasonable fee for the license, certificate, permit or for rendering the service or for performing the work in the manner provided in MGL c. 40, § 22F.

No municipal agency shall establish a fee or charge pursuant to this section without the prior review and consent of the Town Manager and if the agency is appointed by the Board of Selectmen or by the School Committee without the consent of its appointing authority.

§ 5-108 Licenses and permits of delinquent taxpayers.

The Town may deny any application for, or revoke or suspend a building permit or any local license or permit, including renewals and transfers issued by any board, officer, department for any person, corporation or business enterprise, who has neglected or refused to pay any local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges, including amounts assessed under the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21-D, or with respect to any activity, event or other matter which is the subject of such license or permit and which activity, event or matter is to be carried out or exercised on or about real estate whose owner has neglected or refused to pay any local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or any other municipal charges.

Notice to Town agencies of tax delinquency. The Treasurer/Collector or other municipal officials responsible for records of all municipal taxes, assessments, betterments and other municipal charges, hereinafter referred to as the "Treasurer/Collector," shall annually furnish each department, board, commission or division, hereinafter referred to as the "licensing authority," that issues licenses or permits, including renewals and transfers, a list of any person, corporation or business enterprise, hereinafter referred to as the "party," that has neglected or refused to pay any local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges for not less than a twelve-month period and that such party has not filed in good faith a pending application for an abatement of such tax or a pending petition before the Appellate Tax Board.

Written notice to be given before suspension or revocation takes effect. The licensing authority may deny, revoke or suspend any license or permit, including renewals and transfers, of any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority from the Treasurer/Collector or with respect to any activity, event or other matter which is the subject of such license or permit and which activity, event or matter is carried out or exercised or is to be carried out or exercised on or about real estate owned by any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority from the Treasurer/Collector; provided, however, that written notice is given to the party and the Treasurer/Collector, as required by applicable provisions of law, and the party is given hearing, to be held not earlier than 14 days after said notice. Said list shall be prima facie evidence for denial, revocation or suspension of said license or permit to any party.

Hearing. The Treasurer/Collector shall have the right to intervene in any hearing conducted with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any findings made by the licensing authority with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension shall be made only for the purpose of such proceedings and shall not be relevant to or introduced in any proceeding at law, except for any appeal from such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any license or permit denied, suspended or revoked under this section shall not be reissued or renewed until the licensing authority receives a certificate issued by the Treasurer/Collector that the party is in good standing with respect to any and all local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges payable to the Town as of the date of issuance of said certificate.

Payment agreement. Any party shall be given an opportunity to enter into a payment agreement, thereby allowing the licensing authority to issue a certificate indicating said limitations to the license or permit, and the validity of said license shall be conditioned upon the satisfactory compliance with said agreement. Failure to comply with said agreement shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of said license or permit; provided, however, that the holder be given notice and a hearing as required by applicable provisions of law.

Waiver. The Board of Selectmen may waive such denial, suspension or revocation if it finds there is no direct or indirect business interest by the property owner, its officers or stockholders, if any, or members of his immediate family, as defined in MGL c. 268A, § 1, in the business or activity conducted in or on said property.

Exceptions. This section shall not apply to the following licenses and permits granted under the Massachusetts General Laws: open burning (c. 48, § 13); bicycle permits (c. 85, § 11A); sales of articles for charitable purposes (c. 101, § 33); children's work permits (c. 149, § 69); clubs, associations dispensing food or beverages licenses (c. 140, § 21E); dog licenses (c. 140, § 137); fishing, hunting, trapping licenses (c. 131, § 12); marriage licenses (c. 207, § 28); and theatrical events, public exhibition permits (c. 140, § 181).

§ 5-109 Due dates for payments to town, interest on unpaid balances.

Unless some other provision is made by law which permits a longer time for payment, all bills for the payment of any sum due to the Town of Northbridge, for whatever purpose, shall be due on the 31st day following the date such bill has been issued.

Interest shall be added to any balance which remains unpaid after such 31st day at the same rate as is provided in MGL c. 59, § 57.

§ 5-110 Acceptance of gifts, grants, bequests, etc.

Any municipal agency may accept grants, gifts or bequests of funds from any other level or unit of government, from a charitable entity, from a private corporation, or from an individual or group of individuals when such funds are to be expended for purposes within the jurisdiction of the said municipal agency.

All such funds so received shall be deposited with the Town Treasurer-Collector, held as a separate account and invested and reinvested by such officer in the manner provided for other municipal funds. The interest earned on such accounts shall remain with the funds so established and may be expended for the purposes for which the fund was established by the terms of the gift, grant, bequest or otherwise.

The municipal agency may expend the funds in such accounts, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, for the purposes as specified in the gift or grant or bequest.

The Treasurer-Collector shall keep a list of all such funds as may be established pursuant to this section which shall be kept in a place for convenient public examination during regular office hours. A summary of the receipts and disbursements in each account so established shall be published annually in the Town Report.

This section is designed to implement and apply the provisions of MGL c. 44, § 53A.

§ 5-111 Budget Calendar.

[Amended 10-24-2006 ATM, Art. 23]

In order to enable the Town Manager to prepare the Town's operating budget as required by Charter, the School Committee and all other municipal departments shall annually submit their proposed budgets for the ensuing fiscal year to the Town Manager not later than October 31.

The Town Manager shall annually submit a draft of his proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee not later than December 31.

Not later than February 15, or 14 days after the Governor submits his proposed budget to the legislature pursuant to MGL c. 29 § 7H, whichever occurs later, the School Committee shall submit any proposed revisions to its proposed budget for the ensuing year to the Town Manager.

The Town Manager shall submit the final draft of his proposed operating budget to the Board of Selectmen not later than February 28.

The Board of Selectmen shall review and approve the proposed budget and the Town Manager shall forward the approved budget to the Finance Committee not later than March 15.

§ 5-112 Betterments.

Whenever the Town shall construct or improve a public work, in the nature of a public utility, including but not limited to a sanitary sewer, or waterline, a private way or other improvement which provides a benefit to a particular class or group of persons and not to the public generally, the costs of such installation shall be apportioned as nearly as possible on the following basis:

(1)

Seventy-five percent to the benefiting landowners.

(2)

Twenty-five percent to the Town.

Such allocation of costs shall be made after all state and federal reimbursements have been deducted from the total cost of the work.

The provisions of MGL c. 80 shall govern the implementation of this section.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection D, concerning apportionment of costs for the Edgemere Area Sewer Extension Project, added 5-1-2001 STM, Art, 2, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 10-25-2011 ATM, Art. 7.

§ 5-113 Revolving funds.

[Added 5-2-2017 ATM, Art. 8]

There are hereby established in the Town of Northbridge, pursuant to the provisions of MGL c.44, § 53E 1/2, the following revolving funds:

Program or Purpose	Representative or Board Authorized to Spend	Department Receipts
Playgrounds and recreation - field maintenance and improvements, equipment rental, support facilities	Playground and Recreation Commission	Grants, donations, program user fees, fundraising proceeds
Food health and safety - inspections, plan reviews, supplies, and administrative costs	Board of Health	Food-related permit fees, plan review fees, noncompliance fees
Compost site - monitoring/monitor's salary, supplies, administrative costs	Board of Health	Fees from compost site stickers

Expenditures from each revolving fund set forth herein shall be subject to the limitation established annually by Town Meeting or any increase therein as may be authorized in accordance with MGL c.44, § 53E 1/2.

The FY2020 spending limits for such revolving funds are set as follows:

[Amended 5-7-2019 ATM, Art. 8]

Program or Purpose	FY 2020 Spending Limit
Playgrounds and recreation	$20,000
Food health and safety	$20,000
Compost site	$10,000