SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2455        FILED ON: 1/28/2016

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Ryan C. Fattman

_________________

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 use of legal counsel by the town of Southbridge.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2455        FILED ON: 1/28/2016

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

An Act relative to the use of legal counsel by the town of Southbridge.

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 7-1-1 of the charter of the town of Southbridge, 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 inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-

No town office or agency shall, unless specifically authorized to do so by the town manager, employ, advise with or consult any attorney or counselor at law with regard to its duties, or to any town business. Whenever it is determined that the services of a legal specialist are required, necessary or desirable, the town manager shall, after consultation with the town attorney and the office or agency involved, designate such special counsel.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 42C of chapter 54 of the General Laws, this act shall be submitted to the voters of the town of Southbridge in the form of the following question which shall be placed on the ballot at a regular or special town election to be held in the year 2016:-

“Shall an act passed by the General Court in the year 2016, entitled ‘An Act relative to the use of legal counsel by the town of Southbridge’ be accepted?”

The town counsel of the town of Southbridge shall cause a fair and concise summary of the question to be included below the ballot question.

If a majority of the votes cast in answer to this question are in the affirmative, this act shall take effect in the town of Southbridge, but not otherwise.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.