The Appropriation Committee shall consist of six members and shall have and exercise its powers pursuant to the Charter and this Code. No elected or appointed town officer or town employee or member of any town committee or of any regional or district entity of which the town is a member shall be eligible to serve on this Committee.
[HISTORY: Derived from Chapter 16, Art. I, of the prior Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Moderator shall, at the close of the Annual Town Meeting, appoint two members for the term of three years. The terms of office of said members shall commence immediately on qualification and shall expire after the final adjournment of the third subsequent Annual Town Meeting or as soon thereafter as their successors are appointed and qualified. The Moderator shall fill by appointment any vacancies which may occur and said appointee shall serve for the remainder of his predecessor’s term of office.
Said Committee shall choose its own officers and shall serve without pay and it shall keep a true record of its proceedings.
All articles in Town Meeting warrants involving the appropriation or expenditure of money shall be considered by the Appropriation Committee. It shall recommend approval or disapproval of same, in whole or in part, and shall, immediately after the presentation of such article at a Town Meeting, report to the Meeting its recommendation of approval or disapproval of such appropriation or expenditure, together with the reasons therefor. To the extent practicable, such recommendation of approval or disapproval and the reasons therefor shall also be contained in the report of such Committee in the annual report.
In the discharge of its duties the Committee shall have free access to all books, records, accounts, bills and vouchers on which money has been paid or may be paid from the town treasury. Officers, boards and committees of the town shall, on request, furnish said Committee with facts, figures and any other information pertaining to their several activities.
Copies of all proposed contracts shall be filed with the Appropriation Committee, and all proposed contracts shall remain with the Selectmen on file at least one week before final action is taken. Copies of contracts shall be considered filed with the Appropriation Committee by mailing a copy to the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee through ordinary mail.