All Town officers shall turn over to their successors
in office, at the expiration of their terms of office, all books,
papers, documents or other property in their custody belonging to
the Town and not necessary for the immediate use of their respective
departments, and these shall be deposited in the Town Clerk's vault,
unless otherwise provided by law.
Each officer, board or committee of the Town
shall annually file with the Selectmen a full and comprehensive statement
of all its acts, a review of its condition, a financial statement
and estimate of the appropriation needed for the ensuing year.
The Selectmen before the Annual Town Meeting
shall, at the expense of the Town, print the Annual Town Report for
the use of the inhabitants, and in addition to the departmental reports
for the municipal year and other reports and matters required by law,
the book shall contain:
A. A complete list of the Town officers with expiring
dates of office, and showing the organization of the different boards.
B. Copies of the warrant for the Annual and Special Town
Meetings held during the year, together with the minutes of the Town
Clerk showing the action taken at each meeting.
C. A report of all claims that are outstanding and all
suits of which the Town is a party.
D. A list of what betterments have been assessed during
the municipal year.
E. A report of what corporations have been granted franchises
by the Town during the municipal year, with copies of the franchises.
F. A tabulated statement showing the object of each appropriation
for the year, the amount appropriated, the amount expended, the balance
unexpended or the amount overdrawn, if any, in each instance, and
an itemized list of all unpaid bills and obligations.
G. A classified statement of all expenditures and receipts
of the Town in detail, so as to give a fair and full exhibit of the
objects and methods of all expenditures.
Officers, boards and committees submitting an
annual report shall file the same with the Selectmen at least by January
15 previous to the Annual Town Meeting.