SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1544        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 975

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

_________________

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 further regulating town meeting notices.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

5th Essex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1544        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 975

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 975) of Bruce E. Tarr, Geoff Diehl and Ann-Margaret Ferrante for legislation to further regulate town meeting notices.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act further regulating town meeting notices.

 

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 10 of chapter 39 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

If a state of emergency is declared by the town’s governing body, the moderator may:

(1) choose an alternative date for the town meeting or special town meeting without having to open the meeting with less than a quorum present and adjourning the meeting to a date, place and time certain; or

(2) re-start the posting process required under the open meeting law.

The provisions of this paragraph shall be subject to approval by a vote taken at an annual town meeting.