SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3906        FILED ON: 5/7/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3087

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

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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 creation of a sewer and water advisory board in the town of Walpole.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3906        FILED ON: 5/7/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3087

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 creation of a sewer and water advisory board in the town of Walpole.

 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.  The charter of the town of Walpole as on file with the archivist of the commonwealth in accordance with section 12 of chapter 43B of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby amended by deleting section 3-8 of article III in its entirety and renumbering the remaining sections of said article III accordingly. 

 SECTION 2.  Said charter is hereby further amended by inserting in subsection (B) of section 3-2 of article III the following new subsubsection:

 (9) Sewer and Water.  The select board shall have exclusive charge and control of the installation and maintenance of the sewers, sewage treatment plants and appurtenances, and of the water department and water system, and all of the powers reasonably necessary to effectuate same.  The select board may from time to time adopt reasonable rules and regulations in connection therewith.

 The select board shall have all the powers and duties given to sewer and water commissioners under the constitution and general laws of the commonwealth, including authority to set water and sewer rates, and such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by this charter, by-law or other vote of the representative town meeting. The select board shall assign all work and maintenance projects to the town administrator or the town administrator's designee.

 SECTION 3.  Said charter is hereby further amended by inserting a new section 7-9 in article VII of said charter, as follows:

 Sewer and Water Advisory Board

 (A) Composition: Term of Office. There shall be a sewer and water advisory board consisting of 5 members appointed for 3 year overlapping terms so arranged that the terms of office of not more than 2 members shall expire each year.  Two members shall be appointed by the select board, 2 by the finance committee and 1 by the moderator.  A vacancy arising in the office shall be filled by the appropriate appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 (B) Powers and Duties. The sewer and water advisory board shall advise the select board on policy and fiscal matters relative to the provision of municipal sewer system and water system services as needed, including annual budgets and sewer and water rates, rather than on technical or operational matters, and on such other matters involving the sewer system and water system as may be requested by the select board or town administrator. 

 SECTION 4.  On the effective date of this act, the terms of the elected incumbent members of the sewer and water commission shall be terminated and the office abolished; provided, however, that the members of the sewer and water commission then in office shall be the initial members of the sewer and water advisory board created in accordance with section 3 of this act and shall serve in such capacity for a period equal to the remainder of their respective elected terms or sooner vacating of office.  Each vacancy arising thereafter shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if applicable, and otherwise for a 3 year term, with the first 2 vacancies to be filled by the select board, the second 2 by the finance committee, and the third by the moderator.

 SECTION 5.  This act shall take effect upon its passage. Or do or act anything in relation thereto.