[Adopted 5-7-1992 (Art. XIX of Ch. II of the General Ordinances as updated through 7-7-2003)]
Pursuant to Section 8 of Article 89 of the amendments to the Constitution of the commonwealth, the Town Council of the Town is the only legislative body of the Town empowered to submit special legislation on behalf of the inhabitants of the Town to the General Court, in a manner as further prescribed by this article.
All petitions for special legislation to the General Court, by any officer, official or employee of the Town, shall first be submitted to the Town Manager and Town Attorney for their review and placement upon the Town Council agenda, through the Town Clerk.
Any officer, official or employee of the Town who seeks to provide testimony on special legislation affecting the Town shall first notify the Town Manager, who shall next advise the Council President of such testimony. The Council President and Town Manager shall seek to ensure that such testimony is consistent with the actions of the Town Council concerning such special legislation.
Nothing in this article shall prohibit any officer, official or employee of the Town from exercising their individual right of free petition and testimony concerning same, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the commonwealth, including an officer, official or employee's petition of general legislation made consequent to their affiliation in professional associations within the commonwealth.
[Added 6-1-1995 by Order No. 95-185]
Whenever the Council shall receive a request which has been forwarded to it pursuant to a vote of a meeting of a special district of the Town which lies entirely within the boundaries of the Town for a petition to the General Court for special legislation relating to that district, it shall forthwith be placed on the Council agenda for consideration by the Council, notwithstanding whether any Councilor sponsors the petition as an agenda item.