AN ACT EXEMPTING THE TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVAL OF BY-LAWS.
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. Section 1-2-1 of the charter of the town of Southbridge, on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The town of Southbridge shall be governed by those General Laws applicable to towns where the laws of the commonwealth distinguish between towns and cities, and all laws applicable to towns shall be applicable to the town of Southbridge, except as otherwise provided in this charter; provided, however, that section 32 of chapter 40 of the General Laws shall not apply to the town of Southbridge.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 42C of chapter 54 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or town by-law to the contrary, the following question shall be placed upon the official ballot and submitted to the voters of the town of Southbridge at a regular or special town election to be held in the year 2012:
“Shall an act passed by the general court in the year 2012, entitled ‘An Act exempting the town of Southbridge from attorney general approval of by-laws.’ be accepted?”
The town counsel of the town of Southbridge shall cause a fair and concise summary of the question to be included below the ballot question.
If a majority of the votes cast in answer to this question are in the affirmative, this act shall take effect in the town of Southbridge, but not otherwise.
SECTION 3. The regular or special town election in section 2 may be held concurrent with the November 2012 state election.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, September 12, 2012.