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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE GENDER NEUTRAL REDRAFT OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF EASTON.

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.  The first paragraph of section C2-2 of article 2 of the charter of the town of Easton, which is on file in the archivist of the commonwealth as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-  At the first town meeting session at which the moderator presides following the moderator’s election, the moderator shall appoint a deputy moderator to serve as acting moderator in the event of the moderator’s temporary absence or disability.

SECTION 2.  The second paragraph of said section C2-2 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the moderator.

SECTION 3.  The third paragraph of said section C2-2 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “He” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  The moderator.

SECTION 4.  The second paragraph of section C2-4 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “he shall designate a deputy to attend in his place” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town officer, department head or division head shall designate a deputy to attend in place of the town officer, department head or division head.

SECTION 5.  Subsection (a) of section C3-1 of article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 6.  Section C3-2 of said article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 7.  Said section C3-2 of said article 3 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 8.  Subsection (b) of section C3-3 of said article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the moderator’s.

SECTION 9.  Section C4-1 of article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 10.  Said section C4-1 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator’s.

SECTION 11.  Said section C4-1 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “He”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator.

SECTION 12.  The fourth sentence of the first paragraph of said section C4-1 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town administrator.

SECTION 13.  Section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 14.  Said section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “He”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  The town administrator.

SECTION 15.  Said section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “he”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  The town administrator.

SECTION 16.  Said section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator.

SECTION 17.  Said section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “him”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator.

SECTION 18.  Clause (m) of said section C4-2 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 19.  Section C4-3 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator’s.

SECTION 20.  Section C4-4 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 21.  Said section C4-4 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator’s.

SECTION 22.  Subsection (c) of said section C4-4 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  the town administrator.

SECTION 23.  Section C5-1 of article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 24.  Section C5-4 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 25.  The second paragraph of said section C5-4 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the director’s.

SECTION 26.  Subsection (a) of section C5-5 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 27.  Section C6-2 of article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 28.  The last sentence of section C6-3 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 29.  The second sentence of the introductory paragraph of section C6-4 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 30.  The third sentence of said introductory paragraph of said section C6-4 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the town administrator’s.

SECTION 31.  The first paragraph of section C6-5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 32.  The first paragraph of section C6-6 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 33.  Section C6-8 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 34.  Section C7-1 of article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 35.  Said section C7-1 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “Committeemen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- committee members.

SECTION 36.  Section C7-9 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.

SECTION 37.  The last sentence of subsection (b) of said section C7-9 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the attorney general’s.

SECTION 38.  Subsection (b) of said section C-7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town clerk.

SECTION 39.  Said subsection (b) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town clerk’s.

SECTION 40.  Said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  select board.

SECTION 41.  Said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “Selectmen’s”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-  Select board’s.

SECTION 42.  Subsection (c) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town clerk.

SECTION 43.  Said subsection (c) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  the town clerk’s.

SECTION 44.  Subsection (d) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-  Any officer sought to be recalled may be a candidate to succeed in that office and, unless the officer requests otherwise in writing, the town clerk shall place that officer’s name on the ballot without nomination.

SECTION 45.  Said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(e)  Incumbent holds office until election. The incumbent shall continue to perform the duties of the office until the recall election. If then reelected, the incumbent shall continue in office for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the incumbent was elected, subject to recall as before and except as provided in this section. If not reelected in the recall election, the officer shall be deemed recalled upon the qualification of the officer’s successor and the successor shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the successor fails to qualify within 5 days after receiving notification of election, the incumbent shall thereupon be deemed removed and the office vacant.

SECTION 46.  Subsection (g) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the officer.

SECTION 47.  Said subsection (g) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such officer’s.

SECTION 48.  Subsection (h) of said section C7-10 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such person.

SECTION 49.  Subsection (b) of section C7-11 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such officer, member or employee.

SECTION 50.  The first paragraph of subsection (c) of said section C7-11 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such officer, member or employee.

SECTION 51.  The second paragraph of said subsection (c) of said section C7-11 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  such officer’s member’s or employee’s.

SECTION 52.  Subsection (a) of section C7-12 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chairperson.

SECTION 53.  Section C8-3 of article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such person’s.

SECTION 54.  Section C8-6 of article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.

Approved, August 20, 2020.