A Board of Police Commissioners is established. Such Board shall
consist of five persons who shall be appointed by the Mayor.
Vacancy in such Board shall be filled in the manner of an original
appointment within 30 days from its occurrence. The members of such
Board shall serve without compensation.
The Board of Police Commissioners may make rules for the government
of its procedure. It shall choose one of its members to be Chairperson
and may prescribe the length of his/her term.
The powers and duties vested in the Mayor and the City Council
by Chapter 244 of the Acts of 1909 shall be exercised and performed
by the Board of Police Commissioners.
The Board of Police Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions
of this article, have the appointment, management and control of the
members and employees of the Police Department and of the Superintendent
of the Police Signal System.
The Board of Police Commissioners shall have the power to examine
into absences of members and employees of the Department, other than
those allowed by law or ordinance, and may approve or disapprove the
payment of salary for the period of any absences.
The rules and regulations for the government and discipline
of the Police Department, as adopted and promulgated by the former
Board of Police Commissioners in the year 1981 with all amendments
thereto, a copy of which rules and regulations and amendments thereto,
duly attested, is on file with the City Clerk, are adopted as and
shall continue to be the lawful rules for the maintenance of the Department,
and for the regulation, government and discipline of all members and
employees thereof, until the adoption and promulgation of rules and
regulations as heretofore provided.
This article shall take effect upon passage. Provided further,
that in the employment agreement by and between the City of Springfield
Massachusetts and John Barbieri, dated April 1, 2014, shall remain
in effect; however he shall be subject to the Board of Police Commissioners
as set forth above.
Any provision of this article that conflicts with applicable
law or the City Charter shall be interpreted in such a manner and
to such an extent as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
If any provision of this article is prohibited by or invalid under
applicable law or the City Charter, such provision shall be ineffective
only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, thereby leaving
the remainder of this article effective.