[Amended 8-24-1957 STM by Art. 13; 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
There shall be a Finance Committee consisting
of 13 members, two members to be appointed from each voting precinct
in the manner and at the time hereinafter prescribed, and one member
to be appointed at large. The Chair of each voting precinct shall
within one month after the Annual Town Meeting of 1958 appoint from
the voters of such precinct two members to represent the precinct
on the Finance Committee. One member shall be appointed for a term
of two years and one for one year. There shall be appointed each succeeding
year by the Chair of each precinct at the time and in the manner above
prescribed one member from such precinct to serve for a period of
two years. The Moderator, Chair of the Select Board and Chair of the
Finance Committee for the preceding year shall, annually at a meeting
called for the purpose, appoint one member at large, who shall serve
for a period of one year.
[Amended 8-24-1957 STM by Art. 13]
The Finance Committee shall as soon as convenient
after notification of appointment, and at least within two months
after the Annual Town Meeting, meet and perfect an organization by
the election of a Chair and a Clerk who shall serve until their successors
are elected.
[Amended 2-29-1936 ATM by Art. 43]
The duties of the Finance Committee shall be
to thoroughly investigate all articles on the warrant for the Annual
and Special Town Meetings that call for appropriations of money for
town purposes and also all articles that in any way may affect the
finances of the town, and shall report in writing to the Town Meeting
members its recommendations thereto.
[Amended 4-24-1936 STM by Art. 3; 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
The Finance Committee shall (with the exception
of the Secretary) serve without pay but may be reimbursed for all
necessary expenses incurred in performance of its duties upon approval
of such expenditures by the Select Board. Such expense when incurred
and approved for payment by the Select Board shall be charged to the
Town Meeting Expense Account.
Vacancies among the members of the Finance Committee
which may occur by death, resignation or removal from the town shall
be filled in the manner heretofore specified by appointment for the
unexpired term only.
The Finance Committee shall, upon written request
from any petitioner on any article on the warrant, grant such petitioner
a hearing upon said article before final action on same is determined.
The Finance Committee shall, annually, not later
than one week prior to the time fixed for the Annual Town Meeting,
prepare and publish for the benefit of Town Meeting members and voters
and distribute to the same its recommendations as to the several articles
on the warrant coming under its jurisdiction, and the amounts required
to be appropriated to cover the expenditures of the various departments
of the town for the next fiscal year. It shall also report, in detail,
the amounts of maturing bonds or notes and the amount required for
interest or other outstanding indebtedness of the town. It shall also
at the same time prepare and publish a comparative statement, in parallel
columns, of each department of funds and the expenditures thereof
for the previous two years. It shall at the same time report and publish
estimates of revenues from all sources, as far as possible, with the
probable amount to be levied and raised by taxation to defray the
expenses and liabilities of the town for the next ensuing fiscal year.
[Amended 8-24-1957 STM by Art. 13; 1-30-2001 STM by Art. 21]
No person shall be eligible to serve on the
Finance Committee who is an employee of the town or who holds an elective
or appointive position in the town government, whether or not the
employment or position carries any salary or compensation, except
Town Meeting members elected under Section 2 of Chapter 285 of the
Acts of 1930 and except appointed members of any advisory or ad hoc
committees. This section shall become effective 30 days after adjournment
of the Annual Town Meeting of 1958.