[Adopted as Art. 3, Ch. 500, of the General Bylaws]
[Amended 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 23, approved 2-22-2023]
The Charter (Section 4-5) provides for the inclusion in these bylaws of procedures governing the appointment of persons to boards, commissions and committees of the Town. This Article II sets forth those procedures and is intended to be all-inclusive.
[Amended 5-13-2025 ATM by Art. 32, approved 9-18-2025]
The boards, commissions and committees to which this bylaw applies are the following:
A. 
Audit Committee;
B. 
Cultural Council;
C. 
Board of Assessors;
D. 
Finance Committee;
E. 
Board of Health;
F. 
Historic District Commission;
G. 
Capital Planning and Building Committee;
H. 
Park and Recreation Commission;
I. 
Conservation Commission;
J. 
Council on Aging;
K. 
Recycling Commission; and
L. 
All other boards, commissions and committees as shall have been specifically provided for in the Charter or these bylaws or which have been created by the Select Board, School Committee, or a Town Meeting pursuant to the Charter, these bylaws or Massachusetts General Laws.
The following terms used this Article II have the meanings as noted:
APPLICANT
A person resident in the Town and eligible to vote in Town elections who is making application for appointment to a board, commission or committee.
APPLICATION FORM
The official form approved by the Select Board for use by applicants in making application for an appointment to a board, commission or committee.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The person or persons, and board(s), having authority under the Charter, these bylaws or the General Laws to make appointments to a Town board, commission or committee.
TOWN BULLETIN BOARD
The bulletin board located outside the offices of the Select Board in Town Hall located at 20 Williams Street and maintained for the posting of Town notices and business and the website.
WEBSITE
As provided in the Section 8-7(n) of the Charter, the electronic site officially owned and maintained by the Town and containing information concerning Town business.
The Select Board shall maintain a current list of all Town boards, commissions and committees. The list shall include a brief description of the purpose of each board, commission or committee, the names of all members of such boards, commissions and committees, the expiration date of the terms of such members and any vacancies on such boards, commissions and committees. This list shall be published in the Annual Report, posted on the Town website, and be available for inspection upon request at the office of the Select Board.
Whenever an opening or vacancy occurs on a Town board, commission or committee, the appointing authority shall post or cause to be posted a notice of the vacancy on the bulletin board and the website for a minimum of 15 days (inclusive of the day of posting). Such notice shall include a brief description of the board, commission or committee, as the case may be; the term of the appointment; the fact that applications can be obtained from the office of the Select Board; the Select Board's address; and the date by which applications must be received. The appointing authority shall also place or cause to be placed at Town expense a notice or news article of the vacancy, containing the foregoing information, in at least one newspaper having wide circulation in the Town. If an opening or vacancy occurs, it shall be filled.
An applicant wishing to file an application shall do so only in the office of the Select Board. Such filing must be made on or before the date appearing in the notice of the vacancy posted on the bulletin board. The office of the Select Board shall stamp the date and time of receipt on each application received. An application filed after the expiration of the filing period stated in the notice or in a place other than the office of the Select Board shall not constitute an effective filing for any purpose. An applicant may submit with his or her application such additional information relating to their qualification for the position applied for as they wish.
A. 
The office of the Select Board, if the Select Board shall be the appointing authority, shall promptly acknowledge receipt in writing, by U.S. mail or email, to each applicant of an application. If the Select Board is not the appointing authority, the office of the Select Board shall forthwith deliver copies of each application to the relevant appointing authority, which shall promptly acknowledge receipt, in writing, by U.S. mail or email, to each applicant of an application. The letter of acknowledgement shall include the date, time and place of a public interview of the applicant to be conducted by the appointing authority.
B. 
A person currently serving on a board, commission or committee whose term is expiring and who wishes to be considered for reappointment must file an application. No person may be considered for appointment or reappointment to a board, commission or committee who has not filed an application as provided above.
C. 
Each applicant and application shall receive due consideration, taking into account the qualifications of the applicant as set forth in the application, any additional information submitted by an applicant, the public interview described in § 8-11D below, and the requirements of the position applied for.
D. 
The appointing authority shall conduct a public interview of each applicant. The time, date and place of the interview shall be posted on the Town bulletin board.
[Amended 10-25-2016 STM, approved 2-14-2017; 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 25, approved 3-29-2023]
The appointing authority may make an appointment to a board, commission or committee only at a public meeting of the appointing authority held at least seven days but no more than 60 days after the last applicant interview for an open or vacant position. The term of an applicant receiving an appointment shall not commence until:
A. 
The applicant has filed a written acceptance of the appointment with the office of the Select Board;
B. 
The applicant has been sworn into office if required for the position (by the Massachusetts General Laws or these bylaws); and
C. 
The applicant has undergone required ethics training under the Massachusetts General Laws.
[Amended 11-27-2007 STM, approved 2-28-2008]
The appointing authority shall have the authority to appoint up to two associate members to the Audit Committee, Cable Advisory Committee, Conservation Commission, Recycling Commission and Board of Health. The procedures set out in this article shall apply to appointment of associate members. The terms for all associate members shall be for one year, commencing on July 1. Associate members shall have a purely advisory role and shall not have any voting rights and shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present