[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-2-1 
An annual audit of all accounts, books, records and financial transactions of every department, board and commission of the town government, including the elementary school department, shall be conducted as required by the General Laws.
7-2-2 
All auditor's reports shall be public records and shall be filed with the Town Administrator, Town Clerk, and a summary thereof shall be published in the next Annual Town Report.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024]
7-3-1 
A Finance Committee of seven members shall be appointed by the Moderator for three year overlapping terms. Appointments shall be made annually, within 30 days after the Town elections.
7-3-2 
Vacancies in the committee shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Moderator, within 30 days thereafter.
7-3-3 
The Moderator shall have the power to rescind, for cause, any appointment made by the moderator to the Finance Committee, provided that the appointee shall first have been served with a written notice specifying the Moderator's intention, specifying the moderator's reasons therefore, and informing the appointee of the moderator's[1] right to be heard at a public hearing, if requested.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. Per Ch. 83 of the Acts of 2024, this instance of "moderator's" replaced the word "his," referring to the appointee.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-4-1 
At least 120 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting, every Department, Board, Commission and Committee shall prepare and submit to the Town Accountant, operating budget estimates for the ensuing fiscal year.
7-4-2 
Not later than 90 days prior to the annual town meeting, the town administrator shall submit to the select board and finance committee a proposed operating budget of the ensuing fiscal year. Not later than 60 days prior to the annual town meeting, the town administrator shall submit to the select board and finance committee a proposed capital budget of the ensuing fiscal year.
7-4-3 
The finance committee shall prepare and present a budget message concerning its recommendations to the annual town meeting. The budget message shall also be included in the annual town report.
7-4-4 
The budget message shall explain the budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs. It shall: (i) outline the proposed financial policies of the town for the ensuing fiscal year; (ii) describe the features of the budget; (iii) indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies, expenditures and revenues together with the reasons for such changes; (iv) summarize the town's debt positions; (v) estimate the impact of the total budget upon the ensuing tax rate; and (vi) include such other material as the finance committee shall deem desirable. The select board may also submit a budgetary message to the town meeting.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-5-1 
The town administrator shall submit a capital improvement program to the select board and the finance committee not less than 150 days before the start of each fiscal year. It may be based on material prepared by department heads, including: (i) a clear, concise general summary of its contents; (ii) a list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the ensuing 5 years, with supporting information as to the need for each such capital improvements; (iii) cost estimates, methods of financing and recommended time schedules for each improvement; and (iv) the estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining each facility and piece of major equipment involved. This information is to be annually revised by the town administrator with regard to the capital improvements still pending or in the process of being acquired, improved or constructed.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-6-1 
The finance committee shall make available to the residents of the town a notice stating: (i) the time and places where copies of the operating budget and capital improvements program are available for inspection; and (ii) the date, time and place, not less than 7 days after such publication, when the finance committee and the select board jointly will conduct a public hearings on the proposed operating budget and capital improvements program; provided, however, that the finance committee shall hold at least 1 such hearing.
7-6-2 
The Finance Committee shall have summaries of its preliminary recommendations available at said hearings which shall be distributed to those who request them.
7-6-3 
The Finance Committee shall then issue its final recommendations in print on both the operating budget and the capital improvements program, together with the warrant as provided in 2-4-5; and make copies available to the voters at least fourteen days prior to the annual Town Meeting. In preparing its recommendations, the Finance Committee may require any Town department, board, or office to furnish it with appropriate financial reports and budgetary information.
7-7-1 
Statements summarizing the budget and the capital improvement program and related warrant articles, as adopted by the Town Meeting, shall be made available at the office of the Town Administrator and Town Clerk for examination by the public not more than twenty days after their adoption.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024]
7-8-1 
All monies received by the Town or by any department or officer thereof, shall, upon their receipt by such department or officer, be paid forthwith into the town treasury except as provided otherwise by General Law, By-Law, or this Charter.
7-8-2 
Warrants for the payment of town funds, prepared and signed by the Town Accountant in accordance with General Law procedures shall be submitted to the select board, and their approval thereof shall be sufficient authorization for payment by the Town Treasurer.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024]
7-9-1 
To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the select board may make emergency appropriations, to the extent that there shall be available unappropriated revenues to meet such appropriations, subject to provisions of G.L. 44 Section 31, as amended.
[Amended 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-10-1 
An appropriation made by a separate warrant article shall continue in force until the purpose for which it was made has been accomplished or abandoned. The purpose of any such appropriation shall be deemed abandoned if 3 years have passed without any disbursement from or encumbrance by contract of the appropriation.
[Amended 5-9-2023 by Ch. 83, Acts of 2024; 5-8-2026 by Ch. 74, Acts of 2026]
7-11-1 
In addition to the prohibitions prescribed by law, the submission of a bid by any compensated town officer or employee on any contract to be awarded by the town shall serve as notice to resign such compensated town officers or employee’s office, unless otherwise authorized by the General Laws.