The charter may be replaced, revised or amended in accordance with any procedure made available by Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth and any laws of the Commonwealth enacted to implement said constitutional amendment.
[Added 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election; amended 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election; 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020; 5-14-2022 ATM by Art. 46, approved 5-11-2023 Annual Town Election]
In each year ending in a zero, beginning with the year 2030, a special committee shall be appointed by the select board for the purpose of reviewing the provisions of the charter and shall have the title of charter review committee. The charter review committee shall submit a report to town meeting concerning any proposed amendments or revisions to the charter which such committee deems necessary.
The provisions of this charter are severable. If any of the provisions of this charter are held to be unconstitutional, or invalid, the remaining provisions of this charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of this charter, or any of its provisions, to any person or circumstances is held to be invalid, the application of said charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
The following rules shall apply when interpreting the charter:
(a) 
Specific provisions to prevail: To the extent that any specific provision of the charter shall conflict with any provision expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
(b) 
Number: Words imparting the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things; words imparting the plural number may include the singular.
[Amended 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election]
(c) 
References to General Laws: All references to the General Laws or the Laws of the Commonwealth contained in the charter refer to the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are intended to include any amendments or revisions to such chapters and sections or to the corresponding chapters and sections of any rearrangement of the General Laws enacted subsequent to the adoption of the charter.
(d) 
Computation of time: In computing time under the charter, if seven days or less, only business days not including Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays shall be counted; if more than seven days, every day shall be counted.
(a) 
Charter: the word "charter" shall mean this charter and any amendments to it made through any methods provided under Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
(b) 
Town: the word "town" shall mean the Town of Chatham.
(c) 
Voters: the word "voters" shall mean registered voters of the town.
(d) 
Majority Vote: the words "majority vote" shall mean a majority of those present and voting, provided a quorum is present when a vote is taken, unless a higher number is required by law.
[Amended 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election]
(e) 
Town agency or agency: the words "town agency" or the word "agency" shall mean any board, commission, committee, department or office of town government, whether elected, appointed or otherwise constituted.
(f) 
Town department or department: The words "town department" or "department" shall be any office, organizational unit or function under the direction of the town manager.
(g) 
Interlocal: The word "interlocal" shall mean between or among units of government.