The inhabitants of Framingham, within the territorial limits established by law, shall continue to be a municipal corporation, a body corporate and politic, under the name "City of Framingham." In this charter, the City of Framingham shall be referred to as "Framingham."
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the "Framingham Home Rule Charter."
The administration of the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of Framingham, with the government thereof, shall be vested in an executive branch headed by a mayor and a legislative branch consisting of a council. The legislative branch shall never exercise any executive power, and the executive branch shall never exercise any legislative power.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power or function by a municipal government under the constitution or general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is the intention and the purpose of the voters of Framingham 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 in this charter.
The powers of Framingham under this charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the municipality, and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers of the municipality as stated in the Framingham Home Rule Charter. To the extent that any provision of this charter shall conflict with any special act or general law adopted by the municipality to the contrary, the provision of this charter shall prevail.
Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Framingham may exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions, and may participate in their financing, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or with the United States government or any of its agencies.
Unless another meaning is provided in a specific section of the charter or is apparent from the manner in which the word or phrase is used, the following words and phrases as used in this charter shall have the following meanings:
"Charter": this Framingham Home Rule Charter and any adopted amendments to it.
"Department Director": any official responsible for running a department of the municipality who reports to a Division Head.
"Division Head": any official who manages department directors or who reports directly to the mayor.
"Emergency": a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence or condition which necessitates immediate action or response.
"Ex-Officio": by virtue or because of an office without the right to vote.
"Full council", "full school committee" or "full multiple-member body": the entire authorized complement of the council, school committee or other multiple-member body notwithstanding any vacancy which might exist.
"General Laws" or "general laws": laws enacted by the state legislature which apply alike to all cities and towns, to all cities, or to a class of 2 or more cities and towns of which Framingham is a member.
"Initiative measure": a measure proposed by the voters through the initiative process provided under this charter.
"Local newspaper": a newspaper of general circulation within Framingham, with either a weekly or daily circulation, or, except with regard to publication required by general law, local media website.
"Majority vote": when used in connection with a meeting of the council, school committee or a multiple-member body, shall mean a majority of those present and voting, unless another provision is made by general law or ordinance.
"Measure": any ordinance, order, or other vote or proceeding adopted, or which might be adopted by the council or the school committee, but shall not include non-binding resolutions adopted by the council or school committee.
"Municipal or municipality": the City of Framingham.
"Municipal agency": any multiple-member body, department, division or office of the City of Framingham, but not including the council or school committee.
"Municipal bulletin board": a bulletin board, including an electronic monitor, on which the city clerk posts official notices of meetings and upon which other official municipal notices are posted, and any other bulletin boards, including electronic monitors, at any other locations that may be designated municipal bulletin boards by the council, and the official website of the municipality.
"Municipal Notification List": A notification list that residents may voluntarily join, maintained by the citizen participation officer, to inform residents of upcoming meetings, employment or vendor opportunities, municipal activities or other timely information by automatic electronic means.
"Municipal officer": when used without further qualification or description, a person having charge of an office in accordance with Article V, or who in the exercise of the powers or duties of that position exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the municipality.
"Multiple-member body": any board, commission, committee, subcommittee or other body consisting of two or more persons whether elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, but not including the council, the school committee, or executive ad hoc or working groups advisory to the mayor.
"Ordinance": any rule, law or regulation adopted by the municipality in accordance with this charter.
"Organization plan" or "reorganization plan": a plan submitted by the mayor to the council which proposes the abolition or consolidation of one or more municipal agencies, including the reassignment of functions from one agency to another, or the establishment of one or more new municipal agencies as deemed necessary to deliver one or more municipal services.
"Posted on the municipal bulletin board": the placing of an item, on paper or in electronic format, on the municipal bulletin board in order to provide notice to the public until the period of notice has expired or fourteen days, whichever is longer. Large posts may be limited to the first page with a note that the entire document is available on location for inspection.
"Quorum": a majority of the full multiple-member body, full council or full school committee unless some other number is required by applicable law or by ordinance.
"Referendum": a measure adopted by the council or the school committee that is protested under the referendum procedures of this charter.
"Resolution": a formal expression of opinion or a ceremonial declaration voted by the council not requiring the signature of the mayor and having no force of law.
"Salary": total compensation or other emolument payable from the municipal treasury for services, including, but not limited to, payment for benefits, incentives, bonuses or expenses.
"Stipend": a fixed sum of money paid periodically for services or to defray expenses, not including any other form of compensation.
"Special act": a law enacted by the state legislature which applies only to Framingham.
"Voter": registered voter of the City of Framingham.