[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting
of the Town of Belchertown 5-13-1985 by Art. 17 as Ch. III, Art. 3, Secs. 3-1-1 through 3-3-2
of the 1985 Compendium of Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 85.
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was amended 6-27-2020 ATM by Art. 13 to change it from "Selectmen" to "Select Board." Article
13 also amended the General Bylaws of the Town to delete the words
“Board of Selectmen” and “Selectmen,” in each
place where they appear and replace them with the words “Select
Board.”
A Select Board of five members shall be elected
for three-year overlapping terms.
Vacancies in the office of Selectman shall be
filled by special election, in accordance with the provisions of general
law.
A.
The Select Board shall have full authority as agents
of the town, acting upon advice of counsel, to settle any claims or
suits against the town which, in their judgment, cannot be successfully
defended, when the sum to be paid does not exceed $500. Any settlement
requiring the payment of a sum greater then $500, except as authorized
by law, shall be made only if authorized by the voters at a town meeting.
B.
The Select Board may appear in the interests of the
town, either personally or by counsel, before any court, committee
of the legislature or any state or county board or commission.
C.
The Select Board shall have all the powers and duties
of a Board of Selectmen for purposes of the General Laws and any special
acts applicable to the Town of Belchertown. They shall have full authority,
as agents of the town, acting upon advice of counsel, to institute
and prosecute any and all necessary suits and proceedings in favor
of the town and to appear and defend any and all suits and legal proceedings
against or involving the town's interests.
[Amended 6-27-2020 ATM by Art. 13]
[Added 5-8-1995 ATM by Art. 18]
Unless otherwise provided by a vote of town
meeting, the Select Board, pursuant to MGL c. 30B, is authorized to
enter into any contract for the exercise of the town's corporate powers,
on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate, including
length of contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Select Board
shall not contract for any purpose, on any terms or under any conditions
inconsistent with any applicable provision of any general or special
law.
