SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2988

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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SECTION 1. Chapter 686 of the acts of 1970, as most recently amended by chapter 192 of the acts of 2022, is hereby further amended by striking out section 9 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 9. (a) The office of a town meeting member shall become vacant upon their death, resignation or removal from office in any manner authorized by law and such vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, at the next regular town election if such election is scheduled to be held not less than 64 days nor more than 90 days after the vacancy occurs.

(b) If a vacancy in the office of a town meeting member occurs and no town election is scheduled to be held not less than 64 days nor more than 90 days after such vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining town meeting members representing the precinct in which the vacancy occurred pursuant to subsection (c). The moderator shall direct the town clerk to post notice of any such vacancy and a request for candidates; provided, however, that said notice shall be published by the town clerk not less than 14 days prior to the next scheduled town meeting: (i) in a newspaper; (ii) on the bulletin board outside the town clerk’s office; and (iii) on the town’s website.

(c) All candidate information for the vacant town meeting membership received by the town clerk shall be forwarded to the remaining town meeting precinct members prior to the vote, which shall take place at the next scheduled town meeting. The town meeting shall, by a majority vote of such remaining precinct members in attendance, elect a qualified candidate to fill the vacancy to serve until the next regular town election at which time the remainder of the term shall be filled by official ballot.

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