Article 32. Reduction of Number of Selectmen from 5 to 3 Members

Section 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 and 2 of chapter forty-one of the General Laws, or of any other general or special law to the contrary, there shall be3 members of the board of selectmen of the town of Ayer.

Section 2. In order to provide for a reduction in the number of members from 5 to 3, there shall appear on the ballot at the first annual election occurring at least 64 days following acceptance of this act the office of selectman, with the instruction “vote for three” and such other information as will aid the voters. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes at such election shall serve a term of 3 years, the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve a term of 2 years and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve a term of 1 year. Next to the name of any incumbent selectman appearing on the ballot as a candidate for election to said office shall appear the words, “candidate for re-election”. No other term of office for selectmen shall terminate and the board of selectmen shall be immediately reconstituted as a 3-member board. Thereafter, all members of the board of selectmen shall be elected to terms of 3 years.

Section 3. This act shall be submitted for acceptance to the voters of the town of Ayer at an annual or special election in the form of the following question:

Shall the an act passed by the General Court in the year 2013 entitled “An Act Decreasing the Size of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Ayer”, be accepted?

If a majority of the votes cast in answer to said question is in the affirmative, sections one and two of this act shall therefore take full effect in the town of Ayer, but not otherwise.

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon passage. Or take any action thereon or in relation thereto.