SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2041        FILED ON: 3/20/2014

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2066

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Richard T. Moore

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the charter of the town of Bellingham.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2041        FILED ON: 3/20/2014

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2066

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act relative to the charter of the town of Bellingham.

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.  Section 4-4-1(b) of Article 4 the charter of the town of Bellingham, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking the second sentence and replacing it with the following:- “This hearing shall be held at a meeting of the board of selectmen not later than thirty (30) days after the request is filed nor earlier than twenty (20) days.”

SECTION 2.  Article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking section 9 in its entirety.

SECTION 3.  Said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the figure “5-10-1” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “5-9-1”

SECTION 4.  Said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the figure “5-10-2” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “5-9-2”

SECTION 5  Article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking section 7-9-1 and inserting in place thereof the following:-

7-9-1 Member attendance at all non-elected board, committees, councils and commissions meetings is mandatory, unless excused due to illness, family emergencies, etc.  If any person appointed as a member of a multiple member body shall fail to attend the lesser of, three meetings, or, 50% of the meetings within (1) year (beginning at annual town meeting and ending at annual town meeting the following year), the remaining members of that body may, by majority vote, declare the office vacant, provided, however, that not less than 10 days prior to the date said vote is scheduled to be taken, the body has given in hand, or mailed by return receipt requested registered mail to the last known address of such person, notice of such proposed or pending.

SECTION 6.  Subsection (1) of section 8-3-1 of article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking the words “Council on Aging, as provide by town by-law;” and inserting in place thereof the following:- “Council on Aging, as provided by town by-law; to ensure continuity, members shall be appointed in three (3) year terms, each so arranged, that the terms of as nearly an equal number as possible shall expire each year;”

SECTION 7.  Subsection (3) of said section 8-3-1 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking the following:- “Personnel Board consisting of five (5) members; to serve for three (3) year terms each so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number as is possible shall expire each year.”

SECTION 7.  Subsection (5) of said section 8-3-1 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:- “, but not to exceed (3) years.”