The inhabitants of the City of Greenfield, within the territorial limits established by law, shall continue to be a municipal corporation, a body corporate and politic, under the name "City of Greenfield."
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Greenfield Home Rule Charter."
The administration of the fiscal, and municipal affairs of the City of Greenfield, with the government thereof, shall be vested in an executive/administrative branch headed by a Mayor, and a legislative branch comprised of a City Council consisting of 13 members.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power or function by a municipal government in the Constitution or General Laws of the Commonwealth, it is the intention and the purpose of the voters of Greenfield through the adoption of this Charter to secure for themselves and their government all of the powers it is possible to secure as fully and as completely as though each such power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The powers of the City of Greenfield under this Charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the City, and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers of the City as stated in Section 1-4.
Subject only to express limitations in the Constitution or General Laws of the Commonwealth, Greenfield 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 the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or with the United States government or any agency thereof.
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in which the word is used, the following words as used in this Charter shall have the following meanings:
(a) 
Charter — The word "Charter" shall mean this Charter and any amendments to it that may hereafter be adopted.
(b) 
Days — The word "days" shall refer to business days, not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays when the time set is less than seven days; when the time set is seven days or more, every day shall be counted. When the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday the period shall be extended to the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
(c) 
Emergency — The word "emergency" shall mean a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence, event or condition which necessitates immediate action.
(d) 
general laws — The words "general laws" (all lowercase letters) shall mean laws, which apply alike to all cities and towns, to all cities, or to a class of municipalities of which Greenfield is a member. The City of Greenfield shall be governed by the general laws applicable to cities.
(e) 
General Laws — The words "General Laws" (used with initial capital letters) shall refer to the General Laws of Massachusetts, a codification and revision of statutes enacted on December 22, 1920, and including all amendments thereto subsequently adopted. The City of Greenfield shall be governed by the General Laws applicable to cities.
(f) 
Library — The word "library" shall mean the Greenfield Public Library, and any branch or branches, which may be established thereof.
(g) 
Local Newspaper — The words "local newspaper" shall mean a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Greenfield.
(h) 
Majority Vote — The words "majority vote" shall mean a majority of those present and voting, provided that a quorum of the body is present when the vote is taken, unless a higher number is required by law.
(i) 
Multiple-Member Body — The words "multiple-member body" shall mean any City body consisting of two or more persons and whether styled board, commission, committee, subcommittee, or otherwise and however elected or appointed or otherwise constituted.
(j) 
Quorum — The word "quorum," unless otherwise required by law or this Charter, shall mean a majority of the members of a multiple-member body notwithstanding any vacancies, which might then exist.
(k) 
City — The word "City" shall mean the City of Greenfield.
(l) 
City Agency — The words "City agency" shall mean any board, commission, committee, department, division or office of the City government.
(m) 
City Bulletin Board — The words "City Bulletin Board" shall mean the bulletin board in the City Hall on which official City notices are posted and those at other locations within the City which may from time to time be designated as City Bulletin Boards by ordinance, or by other vote of the City Council.
(n) 
City Officer — The words "City officer" when used without further qualification or description, shall mean a person having charge of an office or department of the City who in the exercise of the powers or duties of that position exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the City.
(o) 
Voters — The word "voters" shall mean registered voters of the City of Greenfield.