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.
(a) 
Town Powers — The powers of the town under this charter shall be construed liberally in favor of the town, and the specific mention of particular powers is not intended to limit in any way the general powers of the town as stated in Section 1-4.
(b) 
Specific Provisions Shall Prevail — To the extent that any specific provision of this charter shall conflict with any provision expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
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.