(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 27; Ord. of 05-02-01; A0173-12; C0032-14; amended 4-25-2022 by Ord. No. C0211-22; 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. C0269-22)
(a) 
The city council shall appoint a city clerk in accordance with Sections 2-8(a) of the Charter.
(b) 
The city clerk's term of office shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2-8(a) and 10-5(c) of the Charter.
(c) 
Unless the office of the city clerk has been deemed to be vacated, the city clerk, once qualified, may continue to serve in the office until their term of office expires.
(d) 
The office of the city clerk shall be declared to be vacant immediately in the following occurrences:
(1) 
Death of the office holder;
(2) 
Incapacity of the office holder;
(3) 
Final conviction of the officer holder of a state or federal felony;
(4) 
Expiration of the officer holder's term of office with no vote for reappointment having been taken by the city council prior to such expiration; or
(5) 
Removal of the office holder by the city council for cause.
(e) 
The office of the city clerk shall be declared to be vacant at the close of business on the effective date of the following actions:
(1) 
Resignation of the officer holder; or
(2) 
Retirement of the office holder.
(f) 
A pending vacancy in the office of the city clerk shall be declared after any of the following actions/occurrences:
(1) 
The city council's acceptance of a notice of resignation from the officer holder;
(2) 
The city council's acceptance of a notice of retirement from the office holder; or
(3) 
A vote of the city council not to reappoint the office holder for an additional term of office.
(g) 
When a declared vacancy in the office of the city clerk occurs, the city council shall begin to take action to fill such vacancy as soon as possible; when a pending vacancy in the office of the city clerk occurs, the city council shall begin to take action to fill such vacancy when the body determines it would be in the best interests of the city.
(h) 
When acting on a declared or pending vacancy in the office of the city clerk, the city council shall seek qualified residents of the city to fill such vacancy by having notice of such vacancy posted for a period of four weeks in all local newspapers, on the city's website, social media pages, on the city's local cable access channel and on any other media such as job posting sites utilized by human resources for external job postings.
(i) 
Candidates for the city clerk's position shall submit resumes to the city council office as instructed in such notice of vacancy.
(j) 
After the close of the resume submission period, as specified in such notice of vacancy, the city council's committee of the whole shall:
(1) 
Review all submitted resumes; and
(2) 
Interview qualified candidates for such position.
(3) 
Report its recommendation(s) back to the city council.
(k) 
The city council shall act on the recommendation of the committee of the whole in a manner that it determines would be in the best interests of the city.
(l) 
The city clerk shall also serve as the clerk of the city council.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 28)
The city clerk shall give bond in accordance with the provisions of General Laws, chapter 41, section 13A. The premium for such bond shall be paid by the city.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 29)
In addition to the powers, duties and responsibilities imposed upon the city clerk by the Charter, General Laws and other provisions of general and special statutes, he shall have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities as are established by ordinance.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 30)
(a) 
The city clerk shall notify the city auditor, the city treasurer and the board of assessors, in writing, of all orders authorizing assessments, apportionments, abatements or awards of damages, after such orders are approved.
(b) 
He shall also notify administrative boards, commissions and officers having charge of a department of any orders affecting appropriations under their control.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 31)
(a) 
The city clerk shall notify the mayor, the city auditor and the city treasurer when executive, legislative and administrative officials have been sworn into their respective offices.
(b) 
He shall also notify administrative boards and commissions when appointees to their respective boards and commissions have been sworn into their respective offices, and shall notify the mayor, the city auditor, the city treasurer and the chief of police when members of the police department are sworn into their respective positions.
(Ord. of 11-14-88; A0560-06; amended C0131-09; C0199-18)
(a) 
The fee schedule for services provided by the office of the city clerk is determined in accordance with Chapter 262, Section 34 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
(b) 
The following is the city’s version of such fee schedule and it shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the office of the city clerk.
Service
Fee
For entering amendment of a record of the birth of a child born out of wedlock, subsequently legitimatized
$50.00
For correcting errors in a record of birth
$50.00
For furnishing certificate of a birth
If ordered online
$10.00
$12.00
For entering delayed record of birth (includes certified copy)
$25.00
For filing bond to cover the risk of damage from all blasting operations, a permit for which is granted under the provisions of section nineteen of chapter one hundred and forty-eight
$25.00
For filing bond conditioned upon the payment of any judgment for damage or injury resulting from the storage or manufacture of fireworks as provided by section forty of chapter one hundred and forty-eight
$25.00
For filing certificate of a person conducting business under any title other than his real name
$65.00/4 years (includes $5.00 to notarize)
For the filing by a person conducting business under any title other than his real name of a statement of change of his residence, or of his discontinuance, retirement or withdrawal from, or of a change of location of such business
$10.00
For furnishing certified copy of certificate of person conducting business under any title other than his real name, or a statement by such person of his discontinuance, retirement or withdrawal from such business
$10.00
For recording the name and address, the date and number of the certificate issued to a person registered for the practice of podiatry in the Commonwealth
$100.00
For correcting errors in a record of death
$50.00
For furnishing a certificate of death
If ordered online
$10.00
$12.00
For furnishing an abstract copy of a record of death
$10.00
For recording attested copy of order and certificate of the clerk of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy granting a location for a line for the transmission of electricity under the provisions of section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty-six
$250.00
For furnishing attested copies of order and certificate of the clerk of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy granting a location for a line for the transmission of electricity under the provisions of section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty-six
$250.00
For recording assignment by fence viewers upon determination of a dispute as to a partition fence
$25.00
For recording attested order and certificate of the clerk of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy granting a location to a gas company under the provisions of section seventy A of chapter one hundred and sixty-four
$250.00
For furnishing attested copies of order and certificate of the clerk of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy granting a location to a gas company under the provisions of section seventy A of chapter one hundred and sixty-four
$250.00
For receiving and recording an order by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) granting locations in boulevards under its control to street railways, electric railroads and gas and electric companies, or extension, alteration or revocation of the same
$250.00
For entering certificate of marriage filed by persons married out of the Commonwealth (includes certified copy)
$50.00
For issuing certificate of marriage
If ordered online
$10.00
$12.00
For furnishing an abstract copy of a record of marriage
$10.00
For correcting errors in a record of marriage
$50.00
For recording power of attorney
$20.00
For recording certificate of registration granted to a person to engage in the practice of optometry, or issuing a certified copy thereof
$100.00
For recording the name of the owner of a certificate of registration as a physician or osteopath in the Commonwealth
$100.00
For recording order granting locations of poles, piers, abutments or conduits, alterations or transfers thereof, and increase of number of wires and cable or attachments under the provisions of Section 22 of Chapter 166
$250.00 per street or way (set by statute accepted by the City)
For examining records or papers relating to birth, marriage or deaths upon the application of any person
Actual expense thereof, but not less than $10.00
For copying any manuscript or record pertaining to a birth, marriage or death
$10.00
For receiving and filing of a complete inventory of all items to be included in a closing out sale, going out of business sale, discontinuance of business sale, selling out, liquidation, “lost our lease,” “must vacate,” “forced out,” or other designation of like meaning
$50.00
For recording deed of lot or plot in a public burial place or cemetery
$50.00
For recording any paper not specifically named herein, the fee shall, unless otherwise provided, be three dollars ($3.00) per page. If a paper contains the names of more than two parties, an additional fee of fifty cents ($0.50) each shall be charged for indexing the names of additional parties
$3.00/per page
For raffle, bazaar or game of chance
$60.00
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, § 32)
The city clerk shall turn over to the city treasurer, at least monthly, all moneys and fees received by him in behalf of the city, unless otherwise provided by statute and, except witness fees to attend court, accompanied by a statement of the purposes for which they were received. A copy of this statement shall be filed with the city auditor.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 2, §§ 33—35; Ord. of 5-2-2001; A0173-12; C0032-14; amended 4-25-2022 by Ord. No. C0211-22; 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. C0269-22)
(a) 
Appointment; term of office; vacancy.
(1) 
The city council shall appoint an assistant city clerk in accordance with Section 2-8(a) of the Charter.
(2) 
The assistant city clerk's term of office shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2-8(a) and 10-5(c) of the Charter.
(3) 
Unless the office of the assistant city clerk has been deemed to be vacated, the assistant city clerk, once qualified, may continue to serve in their office until their term of office expires.
(4) 
The office of the assistant city clerk shall be declared to be vacant immediately in the following occurrences:
a. 
Death of the office holder;
b. 
Incapacity of the office holder;
c. 
Final conviction of the officer holder of a state or federal felony;
d. 
Expiration of the officer holder's term of office with no vote for reappointment having been taken by the city council prior to such expiration; or
e. 
Removal of the office holder by the city council for cause.
(5) 
The office of the assistant city clerk shall be declared to be vacant at the close of business on the effective date of the following actions:
a. 
Resignation of the officer holder; or
b. 
Retirement of the office holder.
(6) 
A pending vacancy in the office of the assistant city clerk shall be declared after any of the following actions/occurrences:
a. 
The city council's acceptance of a notice of resignation from the officer holder;
b. 
The city council's acceptance of a notice of retirement from the office holder; or
c. 
A vote of the city council not to reappoint the office holder for an additional term of office.
(7) 
When a declared vacancy in the office of the assistant city clerk occurs, the city council shall begin to take action to fill such vacancy as soon as possible; when a pending vacancy in the office of the assistant city clerk occurs, the city council shall begin to take action to fill such vacancy when the body determines it would be in the best interests of the city.
(8) 
When acting on a declared or pending vacancy in the office of the assistant city clerk, the city council shall seek qualified residents of the city to fill such vacancy by having notice of such vacancy posted for a period of four weeks in all local newspapers, on the city's website, social media pages, on the city's local cable access channel and on any other media such as job posting sites utilized by human resources for external job postings.
(9) 
Candidates for the city clerk's position shall submit resumes to the city council office as instructed in such notice of vacancy.
(10) 
After the close of the resume submission period, as specified in such notice of vacancy, the city council's committee of the whole shall:
a. 
Review all submitted resumes;
b. 
Interview qualified candidates for such position; and
c. 
Report its recommendation(s) back to the city council.
(11) 
The city council shall act on the recommendation of the committee of the whole in a manner that it determines would be in the best interests of the city.
(b) 
Bond.
The assistant City Clerk shall give bond to the city, with a surety company authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth, as surety, which shall be approved by the city council, conditioned faithfully to account for all moneys and fees received by him for which he is required by law to account and pay over to the city treasurer. The premium for such bond shall be paid by the city.
(c) 
Duties.
The assistant City Clerk shall perform such duties as the City Clerk may prescribe in the conduct of his office and shall discharge the duties of the City Clerk when such officer is absent or when there is a vacancy in the office of the City Clerk. He shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties by the City Clerk or a justice of the peace.
(A0173-12)
(a) 
Designation.
The assistant City Clerk shall act as city messenger.
(b) 
Duties.
The city messenger shall perform such services as are requested of him by the mayor, the city council, and committees of the city council.