HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5185        FILED ON: 9/24/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4721

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Leigh Davis and Paul W. Mark

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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 relative to the board of water commissioners of the Dalton fire district.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5185        FILED ON: 9/24/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4721

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 relative to the board of water commissioners of the Dalton fire district.

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. Chapter 137 of the acts of 1884, as amended by section 1 of chapter 7 of the acts of 1997, is hereby further amended by striking out section 9 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 9. At the meeting of said fire district called for the acceptance of the act, or at any legal meeting called for this purpose, 5 persons shall be elected by ballot to contract for and superintend the construction and completion of the water works, who shall exercise all rights, powers and privileges for that purpose herein granted, subject however to instructions and directions of the fire district, who shall constitute a board of water commissioners. The said commissioners shall be trustees of the sinking fund herein provided for. Said board of commissioners shall have charge of the water works and may fix the price or rent for the use of water, and may exercise all the rights, powers and authority granted to said district by this act relative to such duties, subject however to such instructions, rules and regulations as said district may impose by its vote, and a majority of said board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business relative to the water works and the sinking fund. Any vacancy occurring in said board of commissioners from any cause may be filled by said district at any legal district meeting, for the unexpired term. The district treasurer and the district clerk of said fire district shall be appointed by said board of water commissioners and shall have all powers and duties vested by law in the offices of the district treasurer and district clerk.

SECTION 2. At the next annual meeting of the Dalton fire district following the effective date of this act, the district shall hold an election to fill the positions of 3 members to the board of water commissioners. Of the 3 positions on the board to be filled, 2 members shall be elected for a 3-year term and 1 member shall be elected for a 2-year term. The candidates receiving the first and second highest number of votes shall each be elected to a 3-year term to be filled at the election and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes shall be elected to a 2-year term to be filled at the election. At each annual meeting of the Dalton fire district thereafter, there shall be 1 or 2 members of the board of water commissioners elected for a 3-year term, so as to maintain a 5 member board. The board of water commissioners shall annually elect a chairperson from among its members. The members of the board of water commissioners in office on the effective date of this act shall serve until the terms for which they have been elected have expired.