SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2670        FILED ON: 6/28/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2487

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

June 28, 2021

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 appearing in Article LXXXIX of said Amendments, I am filing for your consideration the attached legislation entitled “An Act Validating the Annual Town Meeting Held in the Town of Nahant.”

I am filing this special legislation at the request of the Nahant Select Board.

The legislation ratifies and confirms all acts, proceedings, and votes taken by the Town at its annual Town Meeting held on September 26, 2020.  The ratification serves to resolve in advance any question that might arise from the fact that the Town Meeting warrant was not posted 14 days in advance of the meeting as required by the Town’s Charter.  The warrant was, however, publicly posted more than 7 days in advance of Town Meeting and therefore was posted in compliance with the requirements of the General Laws.  Advance discussion of the warrant matters at Select Board and Finance Committee meetings served as additional channels to inform residents in advance of the matters under consideration at the September 26, 2020 Town Meeting. 

Timely ratification of the Town Meeting vote is necessary to permit the Town to proceed with borrowings needed to complete a major public works project that is scheduled to begin imminently.  I therefore urge your prompt consideration of this bill.

Respectfully,

Charles D. Baker,

Governor

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2487

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act validating the annual town meeting held in the town of Nahant.

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 law, special law, home rule charter provision, or bylaw to the contrary, all acts and proceedings taken by the Town of Nahant at its September 26, 2020 annual town meeting and all actions taken pursuant thereto are hereby ratified, validated, and confirmed notwithstanding any error or omission with respect to the calling of such meeting including the posting of the meeting warrant.

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.