The inhabitants of the town of Lunenburg within the corporate
limits as established by law shall continue to be a body corporate
and politic with perpetual succession under the name "Town of Lunenburg".
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Charter
of the Town of Lunenburg.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power
or function by a municipality in the constitution or laws of the commonwealth,
it is the intent and the purpose of the voters of Lunenburg to secure
through the adoption of this charter all of the powers it is possible
to secure for a municipal government under the constitution and laws
of the commonwealth.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
The administration of all of the fiscal, prudential and municipal
affairs of the town shall be vested in an executive branch headed
by a select board. The legislative powers of the town shall continue
to be vested in a town meeting open to all registered voters of the
town.
The powers of the town of Lunenburg under this charter are to be construed liberally in its favor and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit in any way the general powers of the town of Lunenburg as stated in section 1-3.
Subject to the applicable requirements of any provision of the
constitution or statutes of the commonwealth, the town of Lunenburg
may exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions and
may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation
by contract or otherwise, with any 1 or more states or civil divisions
or agencies thereof or the United States government or agency thereof.
As used in this charter, the following words shall, unless another
meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in which the word is used,
have the following meanings:
(a)
"Appointing authority", the officer or multiple member body which
appoints the officer, member of a multiple member body or town employee.
(b)
"Charter", this charter and any amendment to it hereafter adopted.
(c)
"Emergency", a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, event, occurrence
or condition which necessitates immediate action or response.
|
(c1/2)
|
"Day", a standard calendar day unless otherwise specified.
[Added 8-20-2020 by Ch.
167, Acts of 2020] |
(d)
"Full multiple member body", the entire authorized complement of
the select board, the school committee or other multiple member body
notwithstanding any vacancy which might exist.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
(e)
"general laws", laws enacted by the state legislature which apply
to all cities and towns, to all cities, or to a class of 2 or more
towns or cities and towns of which Lunenburg is a member.
(f)
"General Laws", the General Laws of the commonwealth, a codification
and revision of statutes enacted on December 22, 1920, and including
all amendments and additions thereto subsequently adopted.
(g)
"Local newspaper", a newspaper of general circulation within the
town of Lunenburg, with either a weekly or daily circulation.
(h)
"Majority vote", a majority of those members present and voting,
unless otherwise provided by law, by-law or by the rules of that body
or board.
(i)
"Multiple member body", any board, commission, committee, sub-committee
or other body consisting of 2 or more persons whether elected, appointed
or otherwise constituted, but not including the select board or the
school committee.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
(j)
"Quorum", a simple majority of the entire authorized complement of
a multiple member body unless some other number is required by law
or by-law.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
(k)
"Town", the town of Lunenburg.
(l)
"Town agency", any multiple member body, any department, division,
or office of the town of Lunenburg.
(m)
"Town bulletin boards", the bulletin board at the town hall on which
the town clerk posts official notices of meetings and upon which other
official town notices are posted, and the bulletin boards at any other
locations as may be designated town bulletin boards by the select
board.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
(o)
"Town officer", a person having charge of an office or department
of the town who in the exercise of the powers or duties of such position
exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the town.
(p)
"Voters", registered voters of the town of Lunenburg.
