The inhabitants of the town of Dedham, within the territorial
limits established by law, shall continue to be a body corporate and
politic under the name "town of Dedham".
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Dedham
Home Rule Charter.
The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and municipal
affairs of the town, with the government thereof, shall be vested
in a legislative branch, to consist of a representative town meeting,
and an executive branch, to be headed by a select board.
Subject only to express limitation on the exercise of any power
or function by a town in the constitution of the commonwealth or the
General Laws, it is the intent and the purpose of the voters of the
town of Dedham, through the adoption of the charter, to secure for
the town all powers it is possible to secure under the constitution
and the General Laws, as fully and as completely as though each such
power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The town may exercise any of its powers and perform any of its
functions, and may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or
in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the commonwealth or
any political subdivision or agency thereof or the United States government
or any agency thereof.
As used in this charter, the following words shall have the
following meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Charter",
this charter and any amendments to it made through any of the methods
provided under Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution.
(b) "Days",
in connection with a period of less than 7 days, shall mean business
days, and when referring to a period of 7 days or more shall mean
calendar days; provided, however, that if the last day for action
falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline shall,
unless otherwise addressed by law, move forward to the next occurring
business day.
(c) "District",
a precinct of the town, as established by the select board in accordance
with section 6 of chapter 54 of the General Laws.
(d) "Library",
the Dedham public library and any branch that may be established thereof.
(e) "Majority
vote", a majority of those present and voting, provided that a quorum
of the body is present.
(f) "Multiple
member body", any board, commission or committee consisting of 2 or
more persons, whether elected or appointed.
(g) "Officer",
a person who in the exercise of the powers or duties of their position
exercises some portion of the sovereign authority of the town, including,
but not limited to, any elected official, elected or appointed member
of a multiple member body established by this charter, the by-laws
or the General Laws or other person having of an office or department
of the town.
(h) "Town",
the town of Dedham.
(i) "Town
agency", any town board, commission, committee, department or office
of the town government.
(j) "Town
bulletin boards", the bulletin boards on which official town notices
are posted, 1 of which shall be located in the town hall, 1 of which
shall be located in the library and those at such other locations
within the town as the select board may from time to time designate.
This shall include the town's official website; provided, however,
that unless otherwise required by the General Laws to be posted on
the town's website, failure to post on the website shall not impair
the legality or validity of the actions taken by the town or others
in connection with the notices required to be posted thereon, including
the posting of a warrant for any town meeting.
(k) "Voters",
registered voters of the town of Dedham.