[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of
the Town of Westwood as Art. 6 of the General Bylaws. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
A.
The words "special committee" shall mean a committee
established by vote of the Town Meeting for the purpose of studying
a specified subject or subjects, said committee to report to the Town
its findings and recommendations. Unless otherwise provided in the
vote establishing said committee, the Selectmen shall have power to
appoint all members under provisions of the Town Charter.
B.
This section shall not be construed to exclude the
establishment of committees other than those created by vote of the
Town, said committees, at the discretion of the selectmen, to be established
as special committees or as ad hoc or advisory committees.
Within 45 days of any such vote, the persons
chosen as members of a special committee shall be so notified in writing
by the appointing authority.
Unless otherwise provided, the first named member
of a committee shall immediately call all members together for purposes
of organization, the election of a chairperson, and the election of
a secretary who shall keep records of the official business of the
committee.
The records of said committee shall include
the minutes of all meetings, any reports of progress and final reports,
and such records shall be filed for preservation with the Town Clerk.
If the Selectmen deem best or the Town so votes, the report of a special
committee shall be published as part of the next Annual Town Report.
A special committee shall proceed with its duties
and report to the Town (and, when requested, to the appointing authority)
as promptly as possible, and it shall make a report of progress or
a final report at the next Annual Town Meeting. Following the completion
of its duties, said committee shall request its discharge by vote
of the Town at either a regular or a special Town Meeting.
All members of a committee which fails or neglects
to make a report at each Annual Town Meeting shall by such failure
be held to have resigned and without further action or vote new members
shall be appointed.
[Amended 5-6-2013 ATM by Art. 18]
A special committee shall submit a copy of its
report to the Finance and Warrant Commission for its consideration
before said report can come before the Town for action. Reports to
an Annual Town Meeting shall be submitted no later than two months
before the date of the meeting, and reports to a Special Town Meeting
no later than 21 days before the date of said meeting.
