(a)
The offices to be filled by the voters shall be a select board, a
school committee, a town moderator, a board of assessors, a board
of health, a planning board, a board of trustees of the public library
and a housing authority. Regional authorities, districts, committees
or such other entities as may be established by law or intergovernmental
agreement may also be filled by the voters.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(b)
The elected bodies referred to in subsection (a) of section 3-1 may, by law, the charter, bylaw or vote of the town appoint any temporary or ad hoc multiple member bodies as in their judgment shall from time to time be necessary or desirable specifically for assisting said elected boards in the exercise and fulfillment of their powers and duties referred to in the charter.
(c)
Any registered voter shall be eligible to hold any elective town
office except that:
i.
no employee of the town reporting to the select board, either directly
or through the town manager, may simultaneously hold the position
of select board member; and
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
ii.
no employee of the school district may simultaneously hold the position
of school committee member.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(a)
There shall be a select board composed of five (5) members elected
for terms of three (3) years each, so arranged that the terms of as
nearly an equal number of members as is possible shall expire each
year.
(b)
The executive powers of the town shall be vested in the select board
which shall serve as the chief policymaking body of the town. The
select board shall have and exercise all the powers and duties vested
in boards of selectmen by the laws of the commonwealth and such additional
powers and duties authorized by the charter, by bylaw or by vote of
the town. The select board shall cause the laws and orders for the
government of the town to be enforced and shall cause a record of
all its official acts to be kept. To administer its policies and aid
the board in its official duties, the select board shall appoint a
town manager, as provided in part V.
(c)
The select board shall appoint a town manager, town counsel, an external
auditor to perform the town's annual financial audit, and registrars
of voters as well as all other such town officers and multiple member
bodies except as otherwise provided by the charter. The select board
shall also appoint such officers and multiple member bodies that the
select board may hereafter be directed to appoint by law, bylaw or
vote of the town.
(d)
The select board may investigate or may authorize the town manager
to investigate the affairs of the town and the conduct of any town
agency.
(e)
The select board, unless otherwise provided by law or the charter,
shall be the licensing board of the town and shall have the power
to issue licenses, to make all necessary rules and regulations regarding
the issuance of such licenses and to attach such conditions and restrictions
thereto as it deems to be in the public interest. The select board
shall enforce the laws relating to all businesses for which it issues
any licenses.
(f)
No member of the select board shall concurrently hold any other elected
town position.
(a)
There shall be a school committee composed of five (5) members elected
for terms of three (3) years each, so arranged that the terms of as
nearly an equal number of members as is possible expire each year.
(b)
The school committee shall have all the powers, duties and responsibilities
given to school committees by the laws of the commonwealth, the charter,
bylaws or town meeting vote. Nothing in the charter shall be construed
to affect the powers and duties of the school committee as provided
by law.
(a)
A town moderator shall be nominated and elected by the voters for
a term of three (3) years. In the event of absence of the town moderator,
the town meeting shall elect a temporary town moderator for the purpose
of presiding during the town moderator's absence. The town moderator
shall not hold any other town office, elected or appointed.
(b)
The town moderator shall appoint the finance committee and have other
powers and duties provided that office by the constitution and the
laws of the commonwealth, bylaws or by town meeting vote.
(a)
There shall be a board of health composed of 5 members elected for
terms of 3 years each, so arranged that the terms of as nearly an
equal number of members as is possible expire each year.
(b)
The board of health shall be responsible for the formulation and
enforcement of rules and regulations concerning public health. The
board shall have all the powers and duties given to boards of health
by the laws of the commonwealth, the charter, by-laws or town meeting
vote.
(a)
There shall be a board of assessors composed of three (3) members
elected for terms of three (3) years each, so arranged that the term
of one (1) member expires each year.
(b)
The board of assessors shall have all the powers and duties given
to boards of assessors by the laws of the commonwealth, the charter,
bylaws or town meeting vote.
(a)
There shall be a planning board composed of five (5) members elected
for terms of five (5) years each, so arranged that the term of one
(1) member expires each year.
(b)
The planning board shall have all the powers and duties given to
planning boards by the laws of the commonwealth, the charter, bylaws
or town meeting vote.
(a)
There shall be a board of library trustees composed of five (5) members
elected for terms of three (3) years, so arranged that the terms of
as nearly an equal number of members as is possible expire each year.
(b)
The board of library trustees shall have all the powers and duties
given to boards of library trustees by the laws of the commonwealth,
the charter, bylaws or town meeting vote. The board shall have control
over the selection of library materials and have custody and management
of such. All money and property that the town may receive for library
purposes by gift or bequest shall be administered by the board in
accordance with the provisions of the gift or bequest.
(a)
There shall be a housing authority composed of five (5) members serving
terms of five (5) years each, so arranged that the term of one (1)
member expires each year. Four (4) members shall be elected by the
voters, and the fifth (5th) member shall be appointed as the laws
of the commonwealth provide.
(b)
The housing authority shall have all the powers and duties given
to housing authorities under the laws of the commonwealth, the charter,
bylaws or town meeting vote. The authority shall also make studies
of the housing needs of the town and shall provide programs for housing.
(a)
A member of the finance committee, shall during the term for which
they were appointed, be ineligible to hold any other elective or appointive
town office or position except as otherwise provided herein.
(b)
Whenever the town shall undertake to construct or improve a municipal
building or property, one member of the finance committee may be appointed
to serve as a voting member on the building committee to which the
planning and construction or acquisition of such building or property
is delegated.
(c)
A member of the finance committee may serve as a full voting member
of any sub-committee of the finance committee authorized by the finance
committee.
