The inhabitants of the town of Plainville within the corporate limits as established by law shall continue to be a body corporate and politic under the name "Town of Plainville".
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Plainville Charter.
Subject only to express limitation on the exercise of any power or function by a municipality in the constitution or laws of the commonwealth, it is the intent and purpose of the voters of the town of Plainville to secure through adoption of this charter all powers it is possible to secure for a municipal government under the constitution and the laws of the commonwealth.
The administration of all of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the town shall be vested in an executive branch headed by the select board. The legislative powers of the town shall be vested in a town meeting open to all voters.
The powers of the town of Plainville 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 Plainville as stated in Section C-1-3.
Subject to the constitution and statutes of the commonwealth, the town of Plainville 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 state, or civil division or agency thereof, or the federal government, or any agency thereof.
To the extent any existing by-law, vote, rule or regulation of or pertaining to the town of Plainville contravene or otherwise conflict with this charter, this charter shall take precedence.
As used in this charter, the following words shall have the following meanings:
"Charter", the charter of the town of Plainville as it may from time to time be amended.
"Days", working days or business days, not including Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays, if the time set is less than 7 days; provided, however, that if the time set is not less than 7 days, every calendar day shall be counted, unless otherwise specified as "working days" or "business days", in which case Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall not be counted.
"Emergency", a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence, event or condition that necessitates immediate action.
"general laws", laws that apply to all cities and towns, to all towns or to a class of municipalities of which the town of Plainville is a member.
"General Laws", the General Laws of the commonwealth.
"Majority vote", unless otherwise required by law or this charter, a majority of those members of a multiple-member body present and voting; provided, however, that a quorum is present; and provided further that those abstaining or voting "present" shall not be counted as voting, although they shall be counted for purposes of determining a quorum.
"Minutes", the written report of a meeting created by a public body required by sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A of the General Laws.
"Multiple-Member Body", any town body consisting of 2 or more persons whether styled as a board, commission, committee, sub-committee or otherwise and whether appointed, elected or otherwise constituted.
"Quorum", unless otherwise addressed by general or special law or regulation, a majority of the full compliment of members of a multiple-member body.
"Town agency", any board, commission, committee, department, division or office of town government.
"Town meeting", the open town meeting established in article 2, whether annual or special.
"Town bulletin boards", the posting location for notices under sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A of the General Laws and any other location that may be authorized by by-law or vote of the select board.
"Town officer" or "Town official", when used without further qualification or description, 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.
"Warrant", the notice provided to voters in association with a town meeting or town election as required by section 10 of chapter 39 of the General Laws.
"Voters", registered voters of the town of Plainville.