AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SEEKONK
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 2 of article 1 of the charter of the town of Seekonk, 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 words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 2. Section 5 of said article 1 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 3. Section 5 of article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 4. Section 6 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 5. Section 7 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 6. Section 3 of article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 7. Section 5 of said article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “himself” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- themself.
SECTION 8. Section 1 of article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 9. Section 3 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 10. The title of article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board.
SECTION 11. Section 1 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 12. Section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 13. Said section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the words “Boards of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select boards.
SECTION 14. Section 3 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 15. The second paragraph of said section 3 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the town administrator’s.
SECTION 16. Section 4 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 17. Section 1 of article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 18. The second sentence of the first paragraph of section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 19. The second sentence of the second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 20. Said second sentence of said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the town administrator’s.
SECTION 21. Said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out clauses (A) to (D), inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following 4 clauses:-
(A) The town administrator shall supervise, direct and be responsible for the efficient administration of all functions under the town administrator’s control, as may be authorized by the charter, by-law, town meeting vote or by the vote of the select board.
(B) The town administrator shall attend all regular and special meetings of the select board, unless excused. The town administrator shall have a voice, but no vote, in all of the board's discussions.
(C) The town administrator shall attend all sessions of the town meeting and answer all questions concerning warrant articles that are directed to the town administrator and that relate to matters under their general supervision.
(D) The town administrator shall see that all provisions of the General Laws, this charter, town by-laws and votes of the town meeting and the select board which require enforcement by the town administrator or officers or employees subject to their direction and supervision, are faithfully carried out and performed.
SECTION 22. Said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out clause (F) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-
(F) The town administrator shall keep the select board and the finance committee fully informed as to the financial condition and needs of the town and shall make such recommendations to the select board for actions to be taken as the town administrator deems to be necessary, advisable or expedient.
SECTION 23. Clause (G) of said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 24. Said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out clauses (H) and (I) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 clauses:-
(H) The town administrator may at any time inquire into the conduct of any office or any town officer, employee and department or agency under the town administrator’s jurisdiction and control.
(I) The town administrator shall be responsible for the negotiation of all contracts involving any subject within the town administrator’s jurisdiction. All such contracts as may be proposed by the town administrator shall be subject to final approval and execution by the select board. The select board may authorize the town administrator to execute any such approved contract on behalf of the town. The town administrator shall be included in the negotiations for the school department to the extent required by statute.
SECTION 25. Clause (J) of said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The town administrator shall, in conjunction with the human resources advisory board, prepare and maintain a plan establishing the personnel staffing requirements for each town agency or department within the town administrator’s jurisdiction.
SECTION 26. Said second paragraph of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out clauses (K) and (L) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 clauses:-
(K) The town administrator shall be the chief procurement officer for the town and be responsible for the purchase of all common-use supplies, materials and equipment for the town, to the extent permitted by state law, excepting books and other educational materials for schools and books and other medial materials for the libraries. The town administrator shall approve the award of all contracts for all town departments, with the exception of the school department, subject to the approval of the select board.
(L) The town administrator shall perform any other duties required of them under this charter, town by-laws, town meeting vote or a vote of the select board.
SECTION 27. Section 3 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 28. Section 4 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 29. Section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 30. Said section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
SECTION 31. Said section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “he”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the town administrator.
SECTION 32. Section 6 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 33. Section 1 of article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 34. Said section 1 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “He”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- The director of finance.
SECTION 35. Section 3 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 36. Section 4 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 37. Section 5 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 38. Section 6 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 39. Section 7 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 40. Section 1 of article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 41. Section 5 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.
SECTION 42. Section 9 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the appointee’s.
SECTION 43. Section 10 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
SECTION 44. Section 11 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “Board of Selectmen”, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- select board.
SECTION 45. Section 2 of article 9 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
SECTION 46. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 29, 2026.