[HISTORY: Adopted by the Special Town Meeting 9-30-1974 by Art. 9
as Ch. III, Secs. 6 through 9, 17 through 20 and 24 through 26, of
the 1975 Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Selectmen shall have authority to prosecute,
defend or, in cases not involving an expenditure exceeding $1,000,
to compromise all litigation to which the town is a party, if, in
their judgment, necessity therefor arises.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 52-2, Chairman of Board
of Health, which provided that the Selectmen would annually appoint
one of their number as Chairman of the Board of Health, was removed
pursuant to Art. 9, adopted at the 4-20-1976 ATM. Said Art. 9 provided
that the Town would elect a Board of Health to consist of three members
to be elected at the Annual Town Election, as provided in MGL c. 41
§§ 1 and 2.
The Selectmen shall annually appoint such other
boards and officers as directed by the voters at Town Meeting and
as required by the provisions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
[Amended STM 6-7-1994 by Art. 1]
The Selectmen shall annually (in May) appoint
some member of the bar as Counsel. Counsel shall have a high level
of expertise in municipal law. A written review of Counsel's performance
by all boards and commissions and department heads shall be submitted
prior to reappointment. Such review shall be used as a guide during
the reappointment process. Counsel shall receive for all services,
except for litigation work, labor relations and tax takings, a salary
to be fixed by the Board of Selectmen and approved by the Annual Town
Meeting. Counsel will serve at the will and pleasure of the Board
of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen shall have authority
to accept on behalf of the town any deed or other instrument conveying
to the town the fee simple or an easement in any land for the purpose
of providing for the construction and maintenance of a sewer or drain.
The Board of Selectmen shall purchase or take
by eminent domain any land, easement or right therein within the town
not already appropriated to public use, for any town purpose for which
the purchase or taking of land, easement or right therein is not otherwise
authorized or directed by statute. No land, easement or right therein
shall be taken or purchased by the Board of Selectmen unless the taking
or purchase thereof has previously been authorized by vote of the
Town Meeting.
The Board of Selectmen shall determine and establish
charges to be made to residents and nonresidents for copies of the
town bylaws and any or all other town documents for which, in its
opinion, a charge should be made.
The Board of Selectmen, as licensing authority,
shall establish fees to be charged for all licenses and permits as
provided for in the General Laws and town bylaws.
The streets in the town shall retain the name
they held as of January 1, 1973. All streets laid out shall be named
by the Board of Selectmen (state law reference: MGL C. 85, § 53-53B).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The reference should be MGL
C. 85, § 53-3B
The Board of Selectmen may change the name of
any public street or way in the town. The Board, whenever it proposes
to change any name, shall give public notice and hold a public hearing
on such matter (state law reference: MGL C. 85, § 53-53B).1
The Selectmen shall act as the Personnel Board
and shall confer with respective boards and act on all applications
for employment (except school personnel), shall establish a personnel
program and salary schedules and shall act on all matters of employment
or dismissal in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Massachusetts
General Laws (in accordance with MGL C. 41, § 108C).
