All multiple member boards, commissions or committees of the town whether elected or appointed or otherwise constituted, shall meet within 30 days of appointment and regularly at such times and places within the town as they may prescribe. Special meetings of any board, commission, or committee shall be held on the call of the respective chairman or by one third of the members thereof by suitable written notice delivered to the residence or place of business of each member at least twenty-four hours in advance of the time set. A copy of the said notice shall also be posted on the town bulletin board(s). Special meetings of any board, commission, or committee shall also be called within two (2) weeks after the date of the filing with the town clerk of a petition signed by at least twenty-five (25) registered voters and which states the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is to be called. All meetings of all boards, commissions and committees shall be open and public, provided, however, that the committee, commission or board may recess for the purpose of discussing in a closed or executive session limited to its own membership, any matter which would tend to defame or prejudice the character or reputation of any person, which would affect the public security, or which might have a direct fiscal effect on the town provided that the general subject matter for consideration is expressed in the motion calling for such session and that final action on the matter is not taken until the board, commission or committee comes back into formal session, except as provided in Sec.23A, ch.39 of the General Laws.[1]
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Editor's Note: Section 23A of MGL c. 39 was repealed by St. 2009, c. 28.
At least twenty-four hours before any meeting of a board, commission or committee is to be held an agenda containing all items which are scheduled to come before the board, commission or committee at the meeting shall be posted on the town bulletin board(s). No action taken on a matter not included in the posted agenda shall be effective unless the board, commission or committee first adopts by a separate vote a resolution declaring that a reasonable cause exists and stating such cause.
Each board, commission or committee shall determine their own rules and order of business unless otherwise provided by this charter or by-law and shall provide for keeping a journal of their proceedings. Those rules and journals shall be a public record kept available in a place convenient to the public at all times and certified copies shall be kept available in the office of the town clerk.
Except on procedural matters, votes of all boards, commissions, committees shall be taken by a call of the ayes and nays shall be recorded in the journal, provided however, that if the vote is unanimous only that fact need be recorded.
A majority of the members of the board, commission or committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and subject to the penalties prescribed by the rules of the board, committee or commission; no other action of the board, commission or committee shall be valid or binding unless ratified by the affirmative vote of the majority of the full board, commission or committee.