(a) 
Composition. There shall be a town council which shall exercise the legislative powers of the town. One councillor shall be elected from each precinct.
[Amended by Town Council item 93-074A on 2/18/93; confirmed by a majority of voters on 5/18/93; amendment passed by Act of State Legislature June 1993]
(b) 
Eligibility. Only voters who at all times during their term of office shall be and remain residents of the town shall be eligible to hold the office of councillor. A member of the town council who shall remove from one precinct to another during the term for which such councillor was elected shall cease to be a member of the town council, provided however, a councillor with six months or less remaining on the term for which such councillor was elected, notwithstanding removal from one precinct to another, shall continue to serve and to perform all official duties during such term of office.
(c) 
Election and Term. The term of office of all members of the Town Council shall be for four years beginning on the second Monday following election and continuing until their successors are qualified. Councilors shall serve four year overlapping terms so arranged that the terms of as nearly half of the councilors as may be shall expire at each biennial town election.
[Amended by Town Council item 93-074A on 2/18/93; confirmed by majority of voters 5/18/93; amendment passed by Act of State Legislature June 1993; further amended by Town Council vote in Dec. 1993 and passed by Act of State Legislature, May 31, 1994]
(d) 
Term Limits. A person elected to serve as a member of the town council shall not serve more than 3 consecutive terms of office or 12 consecutive years, whichever is greater. When the term of office for which the person is elected to serve would extend membership on the town council beyond 12 consecutive years if the member served the full term, the seat shall be deemed vacant at the time of the next scheduled biennial town election and the vacancy shall be filled at that regular election for the balance of the unexpired term; provided, however, that the retiring councilor shall continue to serve until a successor is qualified.
[Amended 11-7-2017]
After the councillors-elect have been sworn, the town council shall be called together by the town clerk for the purpose of conducting an election among council members for the office of town council president and vice-president to serve at the pleasure of the town council. The president shall preside at all meetings of the town council, and perform such other functions as may be assigned by the charter, by ordinance or by vote of the town council. The vice-president shall preside at meetings of the town council during the absence or disability of the president.
Except as otherwise provided by law or by the charter, all powers of the town shall be vested in the town council which shall provide for their exercise and for the performance of all duties and obligation imposed on the town by law.
Unless provide otherwise by this charter or until provided otherwise by provisions of section 5-1 the town council shall appoint all boards, commissions, and committees. The town council shall adopt procedures to allow for orderly appointment of multiple member bodies.
[Amended by Town Council item 91-03-1902 on 6/20/91; amendment approved by voters 11/5/91]
If a vacancy occurs in the office of councillor occurs during the first forty-four months of a term, it shall be filled by a precinct election. If a regular town election is scheduled to be held within 120 days, but more than fifty days, after the date vacancy occurs, it shall be filled by a special election within that regular election; otherwise, the council shall schedule a special election to be held as soon as is practical to fill the vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term. The provisions of the charter governing regular elections shall, so far as they are apt, apply to said special election, provided no preliminary election shall be held.
(a) 
Exercise of Powers. Except as otherwise provided by the laws of the Commonwealth or the charter, the legislative powers of the town council may be exercised in a manner determined by it.
(b) 
Quorum. One-half of the total membership of the town council plus two shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the full town council shall be necessary to adopt any appropriation order. Except as otherwise provided by the laws of the Commonwealth or the charter, any other motion or measure may be adopted by a majority vote of those present.
[Amended by Town Council item 93-074A; confirmed by voters 5/18/93; amendment passed by Act of Legislature June 1993]
(c) 
Rules of Procedure. The town council shall from time to time establish written rules for its proceedings. Regular meetings of the town council shall be held at a time and place fixed by ordinance but which shall be not less frequent than once monthly. Special meetings may be held on the call of the president of the town council, or on the call of any four or more members, by written notice delivered at least forty-eight hours in advance of the time set. Except as otherwise authorized by the laws of the Commonwealth all sessions of the town council shall be open to the public and press. Every matter coming before the town council for action shall be put to a vote, the result of which shall be duly recorded. All council votes on ordinances, appropriation orders, or loan authorizations shall be taken by roll call vote, and shall be duly recorded by the town clerk. A full, accurate, and up-to-date record of the proceedings of the town council shall be kept and shall be open to inspection by the public. Regular meetings of the town council shall provide for a period of public comment, provided however, the council may regulate such period of public comment as deemed appropriate. [Changed by legislative action dated August 3, 1995]
The town council may employ such staff and experts as is necessary to conduct the business of the town council. The town council shall set the salaries of such staff.
(a) 
In General. No measure shall be passed finally on the date on which it is introduced, except in cases of special emergency involving the health or safety of the people or their property. Except as otherwise provided by the charter, every adopted measure shall become effective at the expiration of thirty days after adoption or at any later date specified therein. Measures not subject to referendum shall become effective upon adoption. No ordinance shall be amended or repealed except by another ordinance adopted in accordance with the charter, or as provided in the initiative and referendum procedures.
(b) 
Emergency Measures. An emergency measure shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for measures generally except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency measure and shall contain statements after the enacting clause declaring that an emergency exists and describing its scope and nature in clear and specific terms. A preamble which declares and defines the emergency shall be separately voted on and shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the town council. An emergency measure may be passed with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced. No measure making a grant, renewal or extension, whatever its kind or nature, or a franchise or special privilege shall be passed as an emergency measure, and except as provided by the laws of the Commonwealth, no such grant, renewal or extension shall be made otherwise than by ordinance. After its adoption, an emergency measure shall be published as prescribed for other adopted measures. An emergency measure shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time as it may specify.
(c) 
Charter Objection. Except for an emergency measure as defined in subsection (b), on the first occasion that the question on adoption of a measure is put to the town council, if a member objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next regular or special meeting of the town council. A charter objection shall have privilege over all motions but shall be made at the call for a vote on the measure by the presiding officer and all debate shall cease. This procedure shall not be used more than once for any matter bearing a single docket number notwithstanding any amendment to the original matter.
[Changed by legislative action dated August 3, 1995; amended 11-7-2017]
(d) 
Publication of Measures. Notice of every proposed ordinance, appropriation order, or loan authorization, except emergency ordinances provided in section 2-8(b), shall be published once in a local newspaper, and in any additional manner as may be provided by ordinance at least ten days before its final passage. Upon final passage, notice of every ordinance, appropriation order, or loan authorization shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the town and posted on the town bulletin board. Any such publication notice required shall state the summary of the proposed or finally enacted ordinance or ordinances and the times and places at which copies of such ordinance or ordinances may be obtained or reviewed by the public.
The town council may delegate to one or more town agencies, the powers vested in the town council by the laws of the Commonwealth to grant and issue licenses and permits, and may regulate the granting and issuing of licenses and permits by any such town agency, and may in its discretion, rescind any such delegation without prejudice to any prior action which has been taken.
The town council may require any town officer or member of a board or commission to appear before it, and give such information as it may require in relation to an office held by such person, its function, and performance. The town council shall give at least forty-eight hours written notice of the general scope of the inquiry which is to be made to any person it shall require to appear before it under this section.
The town council may make investigation into the affairs of the town and into the conduct of any town agency, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence.
[Amended 11-7-2017]
No councillor shall, while a member of the town council, hold any other compensated town office or position. No former councillor shall hold any compensated appointive town office or town employment until one year after the expiration of his service on the town council. This provision shall not prevent a town officer or employee who has taken a leave of absence from such duties in order to serve as a member of the town council from returning to such office or employment following service as a member of the town council.
The town council shall by ordinance, establish an annual salary and expense allowance for its members.
No ordinance increasing such salary or expense allowance shall be effective, however, unless it shall have been adopted by a two-thirds vote of the full council during the first eighteen months following each regular town election. The new salary and expense schedule shall be effective the first of the year next following the next regular municipal election. [Changed by legislative action dated August 3, 1995]