None of the following shall be subject to the initiative or
the referendum procedures:
(1) proceedings relating to the internal organization or operation of
the city council or of the school committee;
(2) an emergency measure adopted under the charter;
(3) the city budget or the school committee budget as a whole;
(4) any appropriation for the payment of the city's debt or debt service;
(5) an appropriation of funds to implement a collective bargaining agreement;
(6) proceedings relating to the appointment, removal, discharge, employment,
promotion, transfer, demotion or other personnel action;
(7) any proceedings repealing or rescinding a measure or part of it which
is protested by referendum procedures;
(8) any proceedings providing for the submission or referral to the voters
at an election; and
(9) resolutions and other votes constituting ordinary, routine matters
not suitable as the subject of a referendum petition.
For any measure to be effective under initiative procedure and
for any measure to be declared null and void under a referendum procedure,
at least 20 per cent of the voters as of the most recent regular city
election must vote at an election that includes on the ballot submission
to the voters of 1 or more initiative or referendum questions.
The city council may on its own motion and shall at the request
of the school committee, if a measure originates with that body and
pertains to affairs under its jurisdiction, submit to the voters at
a regular city election for adoption or rejection a measure in the
same manner and with the same force and affect as are provided for
submission by initiative or referendum petitions.
If 2 or more measures passed at the same election contain conflicting
provisions, only the 1 receiving the greatest number of affirmative
votes shall take effect.