Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. There is hereby established in the town of Southborough a department of public works, hereinafter called the department, which shall be under the jurisdiction of the board of selectmen. The department shall have all the powers and duties now vested by the General Law and town by-law in the highway department, cemetery department, water department and the office of tree warden. Said departments and office are hereby abolished and their powers and duties shall be transferred to and shall be under the direction of the department. No contracts, obligations or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected hereby, but the department shall in all respects be the lawful successor of said departments and office now included in the department.

SECTION 2. The board of selectmen shall appoint a superintendent of public works, whose qualifications, powers and duties shall be determined and prescribed by said board, and who shall be responsible to said board. The superintendent shall have authority for carrying out the policies of said board and over the operations of the department. The superintendent shall appoint and remove such employees as he deems necessary, subject to appropriation and the approval of said board. Said superintendent shall be appointed for a term of three years commencing on July first and expiring on June thirtieth at the conclusion of the statutory period.

SECTION 3. All powers and duties now vested by the General Law and town by-law in the boards of water commissioners, board of cemetery commissioners and tree warden shall be assumed by the board of selectmen and said boards of water commissioners, board of cemetery commissioners and tree warden are hereby abolished.

SECTION 4. All equipment owned by the town of Southborough and under the control of the highway, cemetery and water departments and office of tree warden shall, upon the effective date of this act, be under the control and direction of the department of public works.

SECTION 5. There is hereby established in the town of Southborough a public works planning board to advise the board of selectmen in matters of planning, managing and financing of said town. Said board shall consist of five members, three of whom shall be appointed by the moderator of said town and two of whom shall be appointed by the planning board of said town. Said members shall serve for a term of three years; provided, however, that of the initial appointments made by the moderator, one member shall be for a term of one year, one member shall be for a term of two years and one member shall be for a term of three years and of the initial appointments made by the planning board, one member shall be for a term of two years and one member shall be for a term of three years.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage.