HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4747        FILED ON: 5/23/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4158

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Alice Hanlon Peisch and Michael J. Barrett

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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 expanding the select board of the town of Weston.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

5/23/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4747        FILED ON: 5/23/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4158

By Representative Peisch of Wellesley and Senator Barrett, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4158) of Alice Hanlon Peisch (by vote of the town) that the town of Weston be authorized to expand its select board from three to five members.  Municipalities and Regional Government.  [Local Approval Received.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act expanding the select board of the town of Weston.

 

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 or special law to the contrary, there shall be in the town of Weston a select board consisting of five members. The select board shall serve as the chief executive officer and policy-making body of the town and have and exercise all the powers and duties vested in boards of selectmen pursuant to the General Laws. Select board members shall serve for 3-year terms with as nearly as possible one-third of the members’ terms expiring each year.

SECTION 2. This act will be submitted to the voters of the town of Weston at a special election occurring not less than 35 days after the effective date of this act in the form of the following question:

“Shall an act passed by the General Court entitled ‘An Act expanding the select board of the town of Weston’ be accepted?”

Below the question shall appear a summary of the act prepared by town counsel and approved by the select board. If a majority of the votes cast to the question is in the affirmative, sections 1 and 3 of this act shall take effect in the town of Weston, but not otherwise.

SECTION 3. If the ballot question authorized by Section 2 of this act shall be approved by the voters, two new offices of select board member shall be included on the ballot at the 2026 annual town election, one for a 3-year term and one for a 2-year term.  The new offices shall appear on the ballot along with the 3-year term expiring in 2026 with instructions to voters to “vote for 3” and such other information as will aid the voters.  The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the election shall serve for terms of three years, and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve a term of two years.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.