AN ACT RESTRUCTURING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND RE-ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF TREE WARDEN IN THE TOWN OF SOUTHBOROUGH
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. Chapter 447 of the acts of 1991 is hereby amended by striking out sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following 3 sections:-
Section 1. There shall be in the town of Southborough a department of public works, hereinafter called the department, which shall be under the jurisdiction of the town's select board. The department shall have all the powers and duties now vested by the General Laws and town by-law in the highway department, cemetery department and water department. The highway, cemetery and water departments are hereby abolished and their powers and duties shall be transferred to and shall be under the direction of the department; provided, however, that no contracts, obligations or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected by this act; and provided further, that the department shall in all respects be the lawful successor of the highway, cemetery and water departments.
Section 2. The select board shall appoint a superintendent of public works, whose qualifications, powers and duties shall be determined and prescribed by the board, and who shall be responsible to the board. The superintendent shall have the authority to carry out the policies of the select board and over the operations of the department. The superintendent shall appoint and remove employees as the superintendent deems necessary, subject to appropriation and the approval of the select board. The superintendent shall be appointed for a term of 3 years commencing on July 1 and expiring on June 30 at the conclusion of the statutory period. The select board shall appoint a tree warden as described under chapter 87 of the General Laws.
Section 3. All powers and duties now vested by the General Laws and town by-laws in the board of water commissions and board of cemetery commissioners shall be assumed by the select board and the boards of water commissioners and cemetery commissioners are hereby abolished.
SECTION 2. Section 5 of said chapter 447 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 8, 2025.