Amendments to this Charter may be framed, proposed and acted
upon in a manner as provided by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
or in accordance with the procedures therein contained and in no other
manner. For the purpose of orderly supervision and review of this
Charter from time to time, as conditions warrant, the Selectmen shall
appoint a Charter Maintenance Committee composed of three (3) citizens
of the Town who shall report to the Selectmen at least annually with
recommendations for review of this Charter.
If any provision of this Charter is held invalid, the other
provisions of this Charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application
of the Charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstances
is held invalid, the application of the Charter and its provisions
to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
Nothing in this Charter except as otherwise specifically provided
shall affect or impair the rights or privileges of persons who are
town officers or employees at the time of its adoption.
All rights, claims, actions, orders, contracts, and legal or
administrative proceedings shall continue except as modified pursuant
to the provisions of this Charter and in each case, shall be maintained,
carried on, or dealt with by the town department, office, or agency
appropriate under this Charter.
All the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
all the votes and By-laws of the Town of Rockland shall continue in
full force and effect when this Charter becomes effective, provided,
however, that all such prior town votes and by-laws are hereby repealed
as of the date this Charter becomes fully effective, to the extent
that they are inconsistent with or interfere with the effective operation
of this Charter.
As used herein and where the words so indicate the masculine
shall mean the feminine, the feminine shall mean the masculine, the
masculine shall mean the neuter and the feminine shall mean the neuter
and the neuter shall mean the masculine and the neuter shall mean
the feminine.
This Charter shall be in full force and effect for all purposes
on and after January 1, 1970.
