SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2719

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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SECTION 1. The charter of the town of Ipswich, which is on file with the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out sections 6 and 7 and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sections:-

Section 6. The select board shall appoint a town manager for a term of 3 years. The town manager shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and experience to perform the duties of the office; provided, however, that the town manager shall be appointed without regard to the town manager’s political beliefs. The select board may reappoint an incumbent town manager for successive, 3-year terms of office, as the board may determine to be in the best interests of the town. Before entering upon the duties of the office, the town manager shall be sworn to the faithful and impartial performance thereof by the chair of the select board, the town clerk or a justice of the peace. The town manager shall execute a bond in favor of the town for the faithful performance of the town manager’s duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as may be fixed or approved by the select board.

Section 7. A vacancy in the office of town manager shall be filled as soon as possible by appointment by the select board. Pending the appointment of a town manager or the filling of such a vacancy, the select board may appoint a suitable person to perform the duties of the office temporarily; provided, however, that a temporary appointment shall be made within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy and shall be for a period not to exceed 180 days;  provided further, that the select board may extend the temporary appointment for an additional period not to exceed 180 days. A temporary town manager appointed pursuant to this section shall serve at compensation to be set by the select board; provided, however, that such compensation shall not exceed the rate of compensation approved for the town manager by the select board.

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