The provisions of this charter are severable. If any provision
of this charter is held invalid, the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby. If the application of this charter, or any of its
provisions, to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application
of this charter and its provisions to other persons and circumstances
shall not be affected thereby.
To the extent that any specific provision of this charter may
conflict with any other provision expressed in general terms, the
specific provision shall prevail.
A copy of all rules and regulations adopted by town agencies
shall be placed on file in the office of the town clerk and shall
be available for review by any person who requests such information
at any reasonable time. No rule or regulation adopted by any town
agency shall become effective until 5 days following the date it is
so filed.
[Approved 6-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-012]
The town council shall provide, by appointment of a committee,
or as it may determine, that in each year ending in 6 or 1, for a
review of the ordinances of the town for the purpose of determining
if any amendments or revisions thereto may be necessary or desirable.
Such review shall be completed within the year and shall be conducted
under the supervision of the town attorney or as the town council
so directs by special counsel appointed for that purpose. The impact
of any charter amendments, revisions and special acts of the legislature
shall be examined to determine the effect on the town's ordinances.
All references to General Laws contained in the charter refer
to the General Laws of the commonwealth and are intended to refer
to and to include any amendments or revisions to such chapters or
sections, or to the corresponding chapters and sections of any rearrangement,
recodification or revision of such statutes enacted or adopted subsequent
to the adoption of this charter.
Every person who is elected, including those elected by the
town council, or appointed to an office of the town shall receive
a certificate of such election or appointment from the town clerk.
Except as otherwise provided by the laws of the commonwealth, before
performing any act under an appointment or election, all elected or
appointed persons shall take and subscribe to an oath of office and
be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties.
Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any town office or in the
employment of the town, or, when by reason of a retirement, resignation,
expiration of a fixed term, or otherwise, a vacancy can be anticipated,
the town manager or other appointing authority shall forthwith cause
public notice of such vacancy or impending vacancy to be publicly
posted on the town bulletin board and website for not less than 10
days. Each such notice shall contain a brief description of the duties
of the office or position and shall indicate a list of necessary or
desirable qualifications for the office or position. Any person who
desires to be considered for an appointment to fill such vacancy may,
within 10 days following the date the notice is posted, or such longer
period as may be indicated in such announcement, file with the appointing
authority a statement setting forth with reasonable clarity and specificity,
the qualifications of such person for such appointment. No permanent
appointment to fill any position shall be effective until at least
14 days have elapsed following such posting to permit the reasonable
consideration of all applicants. This section shall not apply to positions
covered under the civil service law and rules or if in conflict with
the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement.