HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3896        FILED ON: 10/1/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3675

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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October 1, 2013

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,

Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 8, Paragraph 1, Clause (2) of the Amendments to the Constitution, as amended by Article LXXXIX, I am filing for your consideration the attached legislation entitled, “An Act Validating the Results of the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Ashland Held on May 2, 2012.” 

Representative Sannicandro, Senator Spilka, and the Ashland Board of Selectmen have requested that I file this special legislation on behalf of the Town.  The purpose of the legislation is to validate the actions taken at the Annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2012 to the same extent as if the warrant was posted in all five precinct locations as required by G.L. c. 39, § 10 and Town by-laws.  The legislation is necessary because the Town passed its FY13 budget and twenty one other routine town business articles including a FY12 supplemental appropriation and CPA bond payments and, absent legislation validating the results of the Meeting, the Town is concerned that fiscal matters conducted at the meeting could be questioned and prevent the town from conducting business.  

The Town and bill sponsors are confident that the Town residents did receive adequate notice of the Meeting through a variety of channels including on the Town’s website and announcements at the board of selectmen meetings.

I urge your early and favorable consideration of this bill.

Respectfully submitted,

Deval L. Patrick,

Governor

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3675

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act validating the results of the annual town meeting of the town of Ashland held on May 2, 2012.

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. Notwithstanding section 10 of chapter 39 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or town charter provision or by-law to the contrary, the acts and proceedings taken by the town of Ashland at its annual town meeting held on May 2, 2012, and all actions taken pursuant thereto, are hereby ratified, validated, approved and confirmed in all respects.  

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.