AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF BELLINGHAM
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 second sentence of subsection (b) of section 4-4-1 of article 4 the charter of the town of Bellingham, 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 the word “that” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- than.
SECTION 2. Article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out section 9.
SECTION 3. Said article 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “5-10-1” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 5-9-1.
SECTION 4. Said article 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “5-10-2” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 5-9-2.
SECTION 5. Article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out section 7-9-1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
7-9-1 Member attendance at all non-elected board, committee, council and commission meetings is mandatory, unless excused due to illness, family emergencies, etc. If any person appointed as a member of a multiple member body shall fail to attend the lesser of 3 meetings or 50% of the meetings within 1 year, beginning at annual town meeting and ending at annual town meeting the following year, the remaining members of that body may, by majority vote, declare the office vacant; provided, however, that not less than 10 days prior to the date said vote is scheduled to be taken, the body has given in hand, or mailed by return receipt requested registered mail to the last known address of such person, the notice of such proposed or pending vacancy.
SECTION 6. Paragraph (1) of section 8-3-1 of article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Council on Aging, as provide by town by-law;” the following words:- to ensure continuity, members shall be appointed in 3-year terms each so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number as possible shall expire each year;.
SECTION 7. Paragraph (3) of said section 8-3-1 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Personnel Board consisting of 5 members; to serve for 3 year terms each so arranged that the terms of as nearly an equal number as is possible shall expire each year”.
SECTION 8. Paragraph (5) of said section 8-3-1 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by adding the following words:- , but not to exceed 3 years.
Approved, October 1, 2014.