1-1-1.
The present Town of North Andover, within its territorial limits
as now or as may hereafter be established by law, is hereby continued
as a body corporate and politic with perpetual succession under the
name: Town of North Andover.
1-2-1.
This charter provides for an Open Town Meeting - Select Board - Town
Manager form of Town government, and it shall be known by the title:
North Andover Home Rule Charter.
[Amended by Chapter 292 of
the Acts of 2020, approved 1-8-2021]
1-2-2.
The Town of North Andover is committed to the full participation
of all citizens and to a policy of equal employment opportunity. The
Town will not discriminate against employees, applicants for employment,
nor citizens engaged in any Town-sponsored activity on any legally
recognized basis, including but not limited to race, age, color, religion,
sex, marital status, sexual preference, national origin, disability
or veteran status.
1-3-1.
The Town shall possess, exercise, and enjoy all powers possible under
the Constitution and Statutes of the Commonwealth as completely and
fully as though they were expressly enumerated herein.
1-3-2.
The powers of the Town under this Charter shall be construed liberally
in favor of the Town, and no specific provision shall be deemed to
limit in any way the general grant of powers that towns may exercise
under the Home Rule Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth,
and the statutes thereof.
1-4-1.
Consistent with any applicable constitutional or statutory provisions,
the Town may exercise any of its powers, or perform any of its functions
and may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation,
by contract or otherwise, with any one or more other towns, civil
divisions, subdivisions, or agencies of any state or the United States
government.
1-5-1.
To the extent that any specific provision of this Charter shall conflict
with any provision in general terms, the specific provision shall
prevail.
1-6-1.
If any provision of this Charter is held invalid, the other provisions
of the Charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of
the 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.