The Selectmen shall have the general direction and management
of the property and affairs of the Town in all matters not otherwise
provided for by law or by these Bylaws.
[Amended 5-3-2021 ATM by Art. 10]
The Select Board, together with two other citizens of the Town,
neither of whom shall hold an elective Town office, shall constitute
a Law Committee. The two members holding no elective office so serving
with the Select Board shall be appointed annually by the Moderator.
This Committee, except as otherwise provided by law or vote of the
Town, shall have full and exclusive authority as agents of the Town
to engage counsel, to institute, prosecute, defend, compromise and
settle all claims, suits and actions brought by or against the Town
or protect the Town with liability insurance from any or all claims;
provided, however, that no claim or action against the Town, unless
reduced to the form of an execution or decree of court, shall, except
in cases which are covered by liability insurance, be compromised
or settled by the payment of any amount in excess of $2,000 without
a special vote of the Town Meeting.
It shall be the duty of the Law Committee to notify the citizens
of the Town by posting in four public places as soon as possible notice
of the fact that an action at law or suit in equity has been brought
against the inhabitants of the Town, when the amount of the action
or suit is $2,500 or more.
[Amended 5-3-2021 ATM by Art. 10]
All conveyances of land or interests in land which may hereafter
be authorized by vote of the Town or otherwise shall be signed by
a majority of the Select Board unless otherwise provided by law, or
these Bylaws or by special vote of the Town, and shall be sealed with
the Town Seal. This does not apply to land held under tax titles.
The Law Committee, in its §
84-4 annual report, shall state what actions have been brought against or on behalf of the Town, what cases have compromised or settled and the terms thereof, and the current standing of all suits of law involving the Town or any of its interests, and it shall give a summary of its activities and decisions during the past year.