The Selectmen shall have full authority as agents
of the Town, acting upon the advice and consent of Town Counsel, to
settle any claims or suits against the Town which, in their judgment,
cannot be successfully defended. Unless otherwise provided by law,
such settlement shall require Town Meeting approval unless the amount
thereof is $10,000 or less or unless insurance coverage is available
in an amount sufficient to reduce the Town's monetary contribution
to the settlement to $10,000 or less.
The Selectmen shall report to the Annual Town
Meeting the financial condition of the Town at the close of the fiscal
year preceding such meeting. Said report shall state what expenditures
have been made and what balance of appropriations, if any, remains
unexpended and shall contain the warrant for the next Annual Town
Meeting.
The Selectmen may appear in the interest of
the Town, either personally or by Town Counsel, before any court,
committee of the legislature, or any state or county board or commission.
They shall have full authority as agents of the Town, acting upon
the advice of the Town Counsel, to institute and prosecute any or
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 interest.
Property the Town may acquire or has acquired
by tax taking or through tax title may be disposed of at auction by
the Board of Selectmen as follows: said auction must be advertised
in a newspaper published in Barnstable County and circulated in the
Town of Harwich three consecutive days at least 14 days before said
sale setting forth the date, place, time and terms of the sale.
The Board of Selectmen is authorized to dispose
of any and all tangible personal property of the Town of Harwich which
has been determined by the department having jurisdiction thereof
to be surplus or no longer serviceable for the intended purpose. The
Selectmen shall have authority to determine the best method of disposing
thereof.
