HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5198 FILED ON: 9/25/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4578
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Dennis C. Gallagher
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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 authorizing Bridgewater town charter amendment for gender neutral language.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Dennis C. Gallagher | 8th Plymouth | 9/25/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5198 FILED ON: 9/25/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4578
By Representative Gallagher of Bridgewater, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4578) of Dennis C. Gallagher (with the approval of the town council) relative to gender neutral language in the charter of the city known as the town of Bridgewater. 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 authorizing Bridgewater town charter amendment for gender neutral language.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Article II Legislative Branch
Section 2-2. General Powers and Duties
(c) Powers and Duties:
(3) The council president shall be recognized as the official head of the town for all ceremonial purposes and the council president, or his (change to; their) designee, shall represent the town in its relations with other units of government.
Section 2-12. Prohibitions; Term Limits
(a) Prohibitions- No councilor shall, while a member of the town council, hold any other town office or position. Elected charter commission membership shall not be considered to be a town office or position. No former councilor shall hold any compensated appointive town office or town employment until 1 year after the expiration of his (change to; their) service on the town council. This provision shall not prevent a town officer or employee who has taken a leave of absence from such duties in order to serve as a member of the town council from returning to such office or employment following service as a member of the town council. Any councilor who has been finally convicted of a criminal offense involving misconduct in any elective or appointive public office, trust or employment at any time held by him (change to: them) shall be deemed to have vacated office and not be eligible to serve in any other elective or appointive office or position in the town.
Article VI. Financial Management
Section 6-1. Annual Budget Policy
The council president shall call a joint meeting of the town council, the regional school committee chairman or his (change to: their) designee, the finance committee, the town manager and any other committees established for the budget process, before the commencement of the budget [process to review the financial condition of the town, revenue, and expenditure forecasts and other relevant information in order to develop a coordinated budget.