AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY KNOWN AS THE TOWN OF GREENFIELD TO FURTHER REGULATE THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS OF FUNDS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
Section 5-7 of the charter of the city known as the town of Greenfield, which is 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 subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following:-
(b) Interdepartmental Transfers - With the approval of the town council, funds appropriated to the use of 1 municipal agency may be transferred to the use of another municipal agency as provided in this section.
The town council may, by majority vote, on recommendation of the mayor, transfer within the last 2 months of a fiscal year or during the first 15 days of a new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, an amount appropriated for the use of any department; provided, however, that no transfer shall be made at any other time of any amount appropriated for the use of a town department to the appropriation for any other department except by a 2/3 vote of the town council; and provided further, that the town council shall, by ordinance, provide a procedure governing such requests, which shall include at least 2 readings and a public hearing by the town council and it shall specify the circumstances under which notice by publication in a newspaper shall be required. A request for a transfer of funds from 1 municipal agency to another shall be made by the mayor, in writing, to the town council and shall include a statement setting forth the reason the additional funds are needed by the agency to which it is proposed they be transferred. The request shall be accompanied by a certificate, signed by the finance director, accountant and head of the agency from which the appropriation is proposed to be taken, that such transfer will not prevent that agency from performing its vital functions.
The town council shall hold a public hearing prior to its approval. Notice of the hearing shall be posted or published at least 5 days prior to the vote in accordance with the town ordinance governing such requests.
Approved, January 8, 2013.