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Town of Falmouth, MA
Barnstable County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (2) Index
A. 
Following the adoption of this Charter, the only officers to be elected shall be a Moderator and a Town Clerk.
B. 
Town governmental bodies to be elected, in addition to the Select Board, shall be:
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
(1) 
A School Committee.
(2) 
A Board of Library Trustees.
(3) 
A Planning Board.
(4) 
A Housing Authority.
(5) 
Such Town members of regional districts, governmental bodies and authorities as are now, or may be, established as elective offices by General Laws, vote of the Town Meeting or intergovernmental agreement.
C. 
Governmental bodies established or continued under this article shall perform their functions and duties in accordance with the Constitution, General Laws, this Charter, bylaws and votes of the Town Meeting. They shall organize annually; elect necessary officers; adopt rules of procedure and voting including the development of agendas; maintain minutes and records of attendance, copies of which shall be public records and shall be filed regularly with the Town Clerk. It is the responsibility of each chairperson to file a current description of the duties and responsibilities of the governmental body and its members with the Town Clerk.
[Amended ATE 5-21-2013; ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
A. 
A Moderator shall be elected at the Annual Town Election for a three-year term.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections B, C, as amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3, and D, as amended 5-15-2007, Question 12, which immediately followed and set forth certain duties of the Moderator, were repealed ATE 5-17-2022, Question 5. For current provisions, see § C2-6, Moderator.
[Amended ATE 5-15-2007, Question 4]
A. 
A Town Clerk shall be elected at the Annual Town Election for a three-year term.
B. 
The Town Clerk shall keep the official records of the Town, record vital statistics, issue licenses and shall be the Clerk of the Board of Registrars. The Clerk shall have the powers and duties of Town Clerks, as provided by General Laws, this Charter, bylaw and vote of the Town Meeting.
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
C. 
Compensation for the Town Clerk shall be determined by the Town Meeting acting on an annual recommendation of the Finance Committee.
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
A. 
A School Committee of nine (9) members shall be elected at large for three-year overlapping terms.
B. 
The School Committee shall have general charge of all public schools in the Town and shall have the powers and duties of school committees, as provided by General Law, this Charter, bylaw and vote of the Town Meeting.
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
A. 
A Board of Library Trustees of seven (7) members shall be elected at large for three-year overlapping terms.
B. 
The Board shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Town Library, including the appointment of a Library Director and other staff, acquisitions and promulgation of library rules and regulations.
A. 
A Planning Board of seven (7) members shall be elected at large for three-year overlapping terms.
B. 
The Board shall make recommendations as it deems necessary on all matters concerning the physical, economic and environmental development of the Town to the Select Board and to the parties directly involved through the Town Planner, who acts as the Board's Administrator.
[Amended ATE 5-15-2007, Question 5; ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
C. 
The Planning Board shall be responsible for the development and periodic review of a Local Comprehensive Plan or portions thereof and shall seek the active participation of the Select Board in developing and fulfilling all elements of the Plan. Such Plan may include all or portions of plans developed by other governmental bodies, but these inclusions must be approved by a vote of the Planning Board. The Local Comprehensive Plan shall be submitted to the Town Meeting and then to the Cape Cod Commission.
[Amended ATE 5-15-2007, Question 5; ATE 5-21-2013; ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3; ATE 5-18-2021, Question 3]
D. 
The Planning Board shall recommend proposed amendments to the Zoning Bylaw[1] and shall provide detailed written explanation of its recommendations and the extent to which such recommendations are consistent with the Local Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3; ATE 5-19-2020, Question 8]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 240, Zoning.
E. 
The Planning Board shall possess and exercise all powers given to it under the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth and shall have and exercise such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by the Charter, bylaw or vote of the Town Meeting. It shall also:
(1) 
Consult with the Town Manager on the appointment, suspension and removal of the Town Planner.
[Amended ATE 5-15-2007, Question 12; ATE 5-21-2013]
(2) 
Meet with the Select Board at least twice a year.
[Amended ATE 5-19-2020, Question 3]
(3) 
Conduct meetings in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
(4) 
During the term for which a member of the Planning Board is elected and for one (1) year following expiration of such term, no member shall be eligible to accept any paid position with the Planning Board.
[Amended 5-19-2020, Question 9]
A Housing Authority shall be established consisting of five (5) members to be selected in accordance with the Laws of the Commonwealth. All members shall serve five year overlapping terms.