The inhabitants of the Town of Harvard, within the corporate limits established by law, shall continue to be a body corporate and politic with perpetual succession under the name "Town of Harvard."
This instrument shall be known and cited as the Harvard Charter.
It is the intent and purpose of the voters of the Town, through the adoption of this Charter, to secure for the Town all the powers possible under the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, as fully and as completely as though each power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the Town shall be vested in an executive branch headed by a Select Board and a Town Administrator. The legislative powers shall be exercised by an open Town Meeting.
The powers reserved or granted to the Town under this Charter shall be construed liberally and interpreted broadly in its favor and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit in any way the general powers of the Town as stated in Section 1-3.
The Town may enter into agreements with any other units of government to perform jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, any of its powers or functions.
All general laws, special laws, Town bylaws, votes, rules, and regulations of or pertaining to the Town which are in force when this Charter takes effect and which are not specifically or by implication repealed directly or indirectly hereby, shall continue in full force and effect until amended or rescinded by due course of law or until they expire by their own limitation.
Elected and appointed officers, employees, and volunteers of the Town are expected to demonstrate with their general conduct and in the performance of their duties and responsibilities, the highest ethical standards to the end that the public may justifiably have trust and confidence in the integrity of its government. Elected and appointed officers, employees, and volunteers of the Town shall recognize that they act always as agents for the public, that they hold their offices or positions for the benefit of the public, that the public interest is their primary concern, and that they are required to faithfully discharge the duties of their offices regardless of personal considerations. Elected and appointed officials, employees, and volunteers of the Town shall not use their official positions to secure or grant special consideration, treatment, advantage, privilege, or exemption to themselves or to any other person beyond that which is available to every other person.
As used in this Charter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) 
"Agency," any board, commission, committee, department, division, or office of the Town Government.
(b) 
"Annual Town Report," a report given to citizens at Annual Town Meeting that includes the financial state of the Town and identifies upcoming issues that will affect the Town.
(c) 
"Charter," this Charter and any amendments to it, which may hereafter be adopted.
(d) 
"Days," business days, not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; provided, however, that when the time set is at least seven days, every day shall be included.
(e) 
"Emergency," a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence, event, or condition that necessitates immediate action.
(f) 
"Massachusetts General Laws," the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, cited as M.G.L.
(g) 
"Majority vote," a majority of those present and voting, provided that a quorum is present when the vote is taken.
(h) 
"Master Plan," a plan revised or developed every 10 years by the Planning Board per Massachusetts General Laws.
(i) 
"Quorum," except for a Town Meeting and unless otherwise required by law or this Charter, a majority of the members of an agency then in office, not including any vacancies that might then exist.
(j) 
"Strategic Planning Process," the Select Board's annual development of a set of priorities and yearly goals for the purpose of assessing and adjusting the Town's direction.
(k) 
"Town," the Town of Harvard.
(l) 
"Town Caucus," shall apply to any public meeting of the voters held under the provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws relating to caucuses for the purpose of nominating persons for election.
(m) 
"Town Meeting," the open Town Meeting established in Article 2, whether annual or special.
(n) 
"Town Officer," a person having charge of an office or department of the Town who, in the exercise of the powers or duties of that position, exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the Town.
(o) 
"Treasury Warrant," a document required to be signed by an authorized person to approve payment for services or supplies rendered to the Town.
(p) 
"Voters," registered voters of the Town.
(q) 
"Warrant," a document required to warn and notify residents and inhabitants of the Town, who are qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet at a specific place to act on published articles relating to the governance of the Town.