[4-5-1981; amended ATM 4-30-1984; 4-28-2014 ATM by Art. 32]
A. A Warrant Committee of nine members shall be appointed by the Moderator,
three of which members shall be appointed each year for three-year
terms. It shall recommend the annual Town budget for vote by the Town
Meeting and fulfill all duties of a finance committee as required
by the Massachusetts General Laws. It shall hold a public hearing
not less than 30 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting to inform the
residents of the Town of its proposed recommendations and to hear
testimony and argument before publication of its final recommendations.
This hearing shall be attended by all elected and appointed Town officers,
unless they are deterred by illness or other reasonable cause.
B. Immediately upon drawing the warrant for a Town Meeting, the Selectmen
shall transmit a copy of the same to each member of the Warrant Committee.
Not less than one week prior to the Annual Town Meeting, the Selectmen
shall distribute to the households of the Town a warrant report containing
an explanation of each Article by its petitioner and a recommendation
by the Warrant Committee. A warrant report shall be prepared in like
manner by the Board of Selectmen for each Special Town Meeting and
may be placed in distribution to the households of the Town at any
time before the Special Town Meeting.
[5-4-1981]
The financial year shall begin with the first day of July in
each year and end with the last day of June following.
No bill, charge or account against the Town shall be paid without
the approval, in writing, first obtained of the person, board or committee
contracting the same.
[Amended ATM 4-30-1984]
No Town officer having control of the expenditure of the public money shall incur any debt or obligation on account of the Town in any department beyond the amount appropriated therefor by the Town, except as provided in Chapter
240, Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places, §
240-2. No Order of Warrant shall be drawn by the Board of Selectmen or other boards upon the Treasurer without an appropriation by vote of the Town nor against any appropriation in excess of the same, except that such payments may be made as are required to protect the Town where it may be liable in actions at law for damages.
Any portion of any appropriation remaining unexpended at the
close of the financial year shall revert to the Town Treasury, unless
otherwise provided by law.
[5-4-1981; amended 4-29-2019 ATM by Art. 13]
Town boards, committees, officers and departments may dispose
of personal property having a value of less than $10,000 belonging
to the Town with the approval of the Board of Selectmen when the property
is no longer needed by the Town.