HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3917        FILED ON: 10/21/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3717

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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October 21, 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 Election Held in the Town of Ipswich on May 21, 2013.” 

The Ipswich Board of Selectmen, with support of Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Bradford Hill, 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 May 21, 2013 Annual Town Election to the same extent as if the ballot question appeared in full in the warrant for such election as required by G.L. c. 54, § 64.  The election warrant, which was timely and properly posted, did not include the text of the one ballot question, which allows the Town to raise funds outside of the limitations of Proposition 2 ½ for reconstruction and related costs of Linebrook Road, including replacement and upgrade of sidewalks, bicycle safety enhancements, and reconstruction of the Doyon School parking areas.  The Board of Selectmen and local legislators are confident that this question was sufficiently publicized through local media, at the annual Town meeting and on the Town’s website. 

I urge your early and favorable consideration of this bill.

Respectfully submitted

Deval L. Patrick,

Governor

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3717

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 election held in the town of Ipswich.

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 any general or special law, charter provision or Town by-law to the contrary, the acts and proceedings taken by the Town of Ipswich at the annual town election held on May 21, 2013 and all actions taken pursuant thereto are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed in all respects.

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