7-1-1. 
This charter may be replaced, revised or amended in accordance with any procedures made available under the state constitution and statutes enacted to implement the said constitutional provisions.
7-2-1. 
The provisions of this charter are severable. If any provision of this charter is held invalid, the other provisions of this charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of this charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of this charter and its provisions to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
7-3-1. 
To the extent that any specific provision of this charter shall conflict with any provision expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
7-4-1. 
Words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things; words importing the plural number may include a singular person or thing; words importing the feminine gender shall include the masculine gender; words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.
7-5-1. 
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in which the word is used, the following words as used in this charter shall have the following meanings:
(a) 
Charter – The word “charter” shall mean this charter and any amendments to it which may hereafter be adopted.
(b) 
Days – The word “days” shall refer to business days, not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays when the time set is less that seven (7) days; when the time set is seven (7) days or more, every day shall be counted.
(c) 
M.G.L.A. – The abbreviation “M.G.L.A.” shall refer to Massachusetts General Laws Annotated.
(d) 
Local newspaper – The words “local newspaper” shall mean a newspaper of general circulation in the town of Bellingham.
(e) 
Majority vote – The words “majority vote” shall mean a majority of those present and voting, provided there is a quorum of the body present when the vote is taken, unless a higher number is required by law.
(f) 
Multiple member body – The words “multiple member body” shall mean any town body consisting of two or more persons and whether styled board, commission, committee, sub-committee, or otherwise and however elected or appointed or otherwise constituted.
(g) 
Town – The word “town” shall mean the Town of Bellingham.
(h) 
Town agency – The words “town agency” shall mean any board, commission, committee, department, division or office of the town government.
(i) 
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 that position exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the town.
(j) 
Voters – The word “voters” shall mean registered voters of the town of Bellingham.
7-6-1. 
A copy of the rules and regulations adopted by a town agency shall be filed in the office of the town clerk and shall become effective immediately upon filing.
7-7-1. 
Charter review. At least once in every ten (10) years, in each year ending in a three (3), a special committee to consist of nine (9) members shall be established 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. The committee shall consist of nine (9) members who shall be chosen as follows: the board of selectmen, the school committee, the planning board and the board of library trustees, shall each designate one person; the finance committee shall designate two persons; and three persons shall be appointed by the moderator. Persons appointed by said agencies may, but need not, be members of the agency by which they are designated. The committee shall meet to organize forthwith following the final adjournment of the spring town meeting.
7-7-2. 
By-law Review. The board of selectmen shall at five (5) year intervals, in each year ending in four (4) or nine (9), cause to be prepared by a special committee appointed for that purpose, a proposed revision or recodification of all by-laws of the town which shall be presented to the town meeting for enactment not later than at the fall town meeting in the year following the year in which the said committee is appointed. The said committee in its final or its interim report shall include recommendations for such substantive change in town by-laws as it deems necessary or advisable. The review of town by-laws shall be in conjunction with town counsel or by special counsel retained for that purpose. Subsequent to enactment by the town meeting, copies of the revised by-laws shall be forwarded to the attorney general of the commonwealth for approval, and they shall be otherwise published, all as required by M.G.L.A. Copies of the revised by-laws shall be made available for distribution to the public.
7-8-1. 
Any appointed officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town, not subject to the provisions of M.G.L.A., or covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement which provides a different method, and whether appointed for a fixed or an indefinite term, may be suspended or removed from office, without compensation, by the appointing authority for good cause. The term “cause” shall include, but not be limited to the following: incapacity other than temporary illness, inefficiency, insubordination and conduct unbecoming to the office.
7-8-2. 
Any appointed officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town may be suspended from office by the appointing authority if such action is deemed by said appointing authority to be necessary to protect the interests of the town. Suspension may be coterminous with removal and shall not interfere with the rights of the officer or employee under the removal procedure stated in article 7-8-3.
7-8-3. 
The appointing authority when removing any officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town shall act in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) 
A written notice of the intent to remove and a statement of the cause or causes therefor shall be delivered in hand, or by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the person sought to be removed.
(b) 
Within five (5) days following deliverance of such notice, the officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town may request a public hearing at which such person may be represented by counsel, shall be entitled to present evidence, call witnesses and to question any witness appearing at the hearing.
(c) 
Between one (1) and ten (10) days after the public hearing is adjourned, or if the officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town fails to request a public hearing between six (6) and fifteen (15) days after delivery of the notice of intent to remove, the appointing authority shall take final action, either removing the officer, member of a multiple member body or employee of the town or notifying such that the notice is rescinded. Failure of the appointing authority to take any action within the time periods as stated in this section shall be deemed to be a rescission of the original notice and the officer, member of a multiple member body or employee shall, forthwith, be reinstated.
7-8-4. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as granting a right to such a hearing when a person who has been appointed for a fixed term is not reappointed when the original term expires.
7-9-1. 
Member attendance at all non-elected board, committee, council and commission meetings is mandatory, unless excused due to illness, family emergencies, etc. If any person appointed as a member of a multiple member body shall fail to attend the lesser of 3 meetings or 50% of the meetings within 1 year, beginning at annual town meeting and ending at annual town meeting the following year, the remaining members of that body may, by majority vote, declare the office vacant; provided, however, that not less than 10 days prior to the date said vote is scheduled to be taken, the body has given in hand, or mailed by return receipt requested registered mail to the last known address of such person, the notice of such proposed or pending vacancy.