[HISTORY: Adopted as Article III of the 7-10-1964 Compilation of Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-30-1986 STM, Art. 19]
A Board of seven (7) members is hereby established, to be known as the "Planning Board."
A. 
The terms of members shall be for three (3) years, but at the Annual Town Meeting to be held in the month of March 1936, there shall be elected two (2) members to serve for one (1) year, two (2) members to serve for two (2) years and one (1) member to serve for three (3) years, and thereafter there shall be elected at the Annual Town Meeting in each year such members as are necessary to fill vacancies.
B. 
At the next annual election the remaining members will be elected as follows: one (1) for a one-year term, the other for a two-year term.
[Added 6-30-1986 STM, Art. 19]
Vacancies otherwise occurring in the Board shall be filled as provided in MGL c. 41, § 11.
The duties of such Board shall be such as are stated in MGL c. 41, §§ 70 to 81X, and further:
A. 
To consider and advise upon municipal improvements either at the request of other officials of the Town or upon its own initiative.
B. 
It shall consider and develop a Town Plan, with special attention to main ways, land developments, zoning, playground and parks and sites for permanent school plants.
C. 
It shall meet at regular intervals.
D. 
It may hold public meetings.
E. 
It shall have access to public documents or information in the possession of any Town official or department.
F. 
It shall examine the plans for the exterior of any public building, monument or similar feature, and for the development and treatment of the grounds about the same before the adoption thereof, and may make such recommendations thereon as it may deem needful.
G. 
It may provide for public lectures and other educational work in connection with its recommendations.
H. 
It may incur expenses necessary to the carrying on of its work within the amount of its annual or special appropriations.
[Amended 6-12-2021 ATM by Art. 15]
All plans for laying out, extending, discontinuing or changing of the limits of any playground or public park, and every purchase of land for the site of any public building, and all plans for the location, erection or alteration of public buildings shall be submitted to said Board for its opinion at least two (2) weeks in advance of action by the Selectboard or the Town.
[Amended 6-12-2021 ATM by Art. 15]
The Board shall make a report to the Town annually, giving information regarding the condition of the Town and plans or proposals for the development of the Town and estimates of the cost thereof. Such report shall be sent to the Selectboard not later than such time in February in each year as the Selectboard may prescribe or as may be prescribed by law in for relative to reports.