FILED ON: 12/29/2016

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4784

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to referendum procedures in the city known as the town of Greenfield.

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 7-8 of the charter of the city known as the town of Greenfield 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 out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(a)Petition, Effect on Final Vote - If, within thirty (30) days following the date on which the Town Council or the School Committee has voted finally to approve of any measure a petition signed by a number of voters equal to ten percent (10 %) of the total number of voters voting - in the most recent regular biennial Town election, but no less than two and one half percent (2 ½ %) of all registered voters as of the same date, and addressed to the Town Council or to the School Committee as may be, protesting against the measure or any part thereof is filed with the Town Clerk the effective date of such measure shall be temporarily suspended. Final approval under this section shall not be complete until the time for all remedies under Section 3-7 are expired. The School Committee or the Town Council shall forthwith reconsider its vote on such measure or part thereof at the next regularly scheduled meeting, and, if such measure is not rescinded the Town Council shall provide for the submission of the question for a determination by the voters either at a special election which it may call at its convenience, or within such time as may be requested by the School Committee, or at the next regular Town election, but pending such submission and determination the effect of such measure shall continue to be suspended.

SECTION 2. Said section 7-8 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c)If not placed before the voters at a regular biennial election, in order for the referendum to be binding upon the Town, twenty-five percent (25%) of the registered voters of the Town must vote on the measure or issue placed before the Town, by citizens' referendum procedure.