Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2030 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 690 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2030
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John Barrett, III
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to amend the Williamstown town charter by making all gender references therein gender
13	13	neutral.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:John Barrett, III1st Berkshire1/17/2023 1 of 9
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 690 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2030
19	19	By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2030) of
20	20	John Barrett, III (by vote of the town) that the town of Williamstown be authorized to amend the
21	21	charter of said town by making all gender references therein gender neutral. Municipalities and
22	22	Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to amend the Williamstown town charter by making all gender references therein gender
29	29	neutral.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of the charter of the town of Williamstown, which is on file in the
33	33	2office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the
34	34	3General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words “majority of the Selectmen” and
35	35	4inserting in place thereof the following words:- majority of the Select Board Members.
36	36	5 SECTION 2. Section 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
37	37	6“Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following
38	38	7words:- Select Board Members.
39	39	8 SECTION 3. Said section 3 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
40	40	9word “Selectman”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
41	41	10following words:- Select Board Member. 2 of 9
42	42	11 SECTION 4. Section 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
43	43	12“Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following
44	44	13words:- Select Board Members.
45	45	14 SECTION 5. Section 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”
46	46	15and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
47	47	16 SECTION 6. Said section 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
48	48	17word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
49	49	18following words:- Select Board Members.
50	50	19 SECTION 7. Said section 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
51	51	20word “Chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- Chairperson.
52	52	21 SECTION 8. Section 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words
53	53	22“Chairman of the Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Chairperson of
54	54	23the Select Board Members.
55	55	24 SECTION 9. Section 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
56	56	25“Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Members.
57	57	26 SECTION 10. Said section 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
58	58	27word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager’s.
59	59	28 SECTION 11. Section 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
60	60	29“Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Members.
61	61	30 SECTION 12. Said section 8 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
62	62	31word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager’s. 3 of 9
63	63	32 SECTION 13. Section 9 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
64	64	33“Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Members.
65	65	34 SECTION 14. Said section 9 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the
66	66	35word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager’s.
67	67	36 SECTION 15. Section 10 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words
68	68	37“Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board.
69	69	38 SECTION 16. Said section 10 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
70	70	39the words “he was” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- they were.
71	71	40 SECTION 17. Said section 10 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
72	72	41the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board
73	73	42Members.
74	74	43 SECTION 18. Said section 10 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
75	75	44the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager.
76	76	45 SECTION 19. Said charter is hereby further amended by striking out section 11 and
77	77	46inserting in place thereof the following section:-
78	78	47 Section 11. Appointment of Town Manager. The Select Board Members elected as
79	79	48provided herein shall appoint, as soon as practicable, a Town Manager, who shall be a person
80	80	49especially fitted by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The Town
81	81	50Manager shall be appointed without regard to their political beliefs. The Town Manager need not
82	82	51be a resident of the town during the term of their office. Before entering upon the duties of their
83	83	52office, the Town Manager shall be sworn to the faithful and impartial performance thereof by the 4 of 9
84	84	53Chairperson of the Select Board Members, or by the Town Clerk, or by a Justice of the Peace.
85	85	54The Town Manager shall execute a bond in favor of the town for the faithful performance of
86	86	55their duties in such sum and with such surety as may be fixed or approved by the Select Board
87	87	56Members.
88	88	57 SECTION 20. Section 12 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
89	89	58“Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following
90	90	59words:- Select Board Members.
91	91	60 SECTION 21. Section 13 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words
92	92	61“Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board.
93	93	62 SECTION 22 Said section 13 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
94	94	63the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
95	95	64following words:- Select Board Members.
96	96	65 SECTION 23. Said section 13 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
97	97	66the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- In the preliminary
98	98	67resolution the Select Board Members may suspend the Manager from duty, but shall in any case
99	99	68cause to be paid to the Manager forthwith any unpaid balance of the Manager’s salary and the
100	100	69Manager’s salary for the next three calendar months following the filing of the preliminary
101	101	70resolution.
102	102	71 SECTION 24. Section 14 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
103	103	72“his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their. 5 of 9
104	104	73 SECTION 25. Said section 14 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
105	105	74the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board
106	106	75Members.
107	107	76 SECTION 26. Subsection (a) of section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by striking
108	108	77out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board
109	109	78Members.
110	110	79 SECTION 27. Subsection (b) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
111	111	80striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town
112	112	81Manager’s.
113	113	82 SECTION 28. Said subsection (b) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
114	114	83amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the
115	115	84Town Manager.
116	116	85 SECTION 29. Subsection (c) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
117	117	86striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The Town
118	118	87Manager may in like manner appoint and remove such other officers and employees as the Town
119	119	88Manager deems necessary to carry out the powers and duties imposed upon the Town Manager
120	120	89by this Act.
121	121	90 SECTION 30. Subsection (d) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
122	122	91striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town
123	123	92Manager. 6 of 9
124	124	93 SECTION 31. Subsection (e) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
125	125	94striking out the words “Board of Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
126	126	95Select Board.
127	127	96 SECTION 32. Said subsection (e) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
128	128	97amended by striking out “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town
129	129	98Manager’s.
130	130	99 SECTION 33. Subsection (f) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
131	131	100striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance,
132	132	101the following words:- the Town Manager’s.
133	133	102 SECTION 34. Said subsection (f) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
134	134	103amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following
135	135	104words:- Select Board Members.
136	136	105 SECTION 35. Subsection (g) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
137	137	106striking out the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each
138	138	107instance, the following words:- Select Board Members.
139	139	108 SECTION 36. Said subsection (g) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
140	140	109amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the
141	141	110Town Manager.
142	142	111 SECTION 37. Subsection (j) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
143	143	112striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town
144	144	113Manager. 7 of 9
145	145	114 SECTION 38. Said subsection (j) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
146	146	115amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following
147	147	116words:- Select Board Members.
148	148	117 SECTION 39. Subsection (k) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
149	149	118striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select
150	150	119Board Members.
151	151	120 SECTION 40. Said subsection (k) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
152	152	121amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the
153	153	122Town Manager’s.
154	154	123 SECTION 41. Subsection (l) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
155	155	124striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town
156	156	125Manager’s.
157	157	126 SECTION 42. Said subsection (l) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
158	158	127amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the
159	159	128Town Manager.
160	160	129 SECTION 43. Said subsection (l) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
161	161	130amended by striking out the word “Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following
162	162	131words:- Select Board Members.
163	163	132 SECTION 44. Subsection (m) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby amended by
164	164	133striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance,
165	165	134the following words:- the Town Manager’s. 8 of 9
166	166	135 SECTION 45. Said subsection (m) of said section 15 of said charter is hereby further
167	167	136amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the
168	168	137Town Manager.
169	169	138 SECTION 46. Section 16 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
170	170	139“Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following
171	171	140words:- Select Board Members.
172	172	141 SECTION 47. Said section 16 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
173	173	142the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
174	174	143following word:- their.
175	175	144 SECTION 48. Said section 16 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
176	176	145the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- they.
177	177	146 SECTION 49. Section 17 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he”
178	178	147and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager.
179	179	148 SECTION 50. Section 18 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
180	180	149“Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Members.
181	181	150 SECTION 51. Section 19 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he”
182	182	151and inserting in place thereof the following word:- they.
183	183	152 SECTION 52. Said section 19 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
184	184	153the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Town Manager. 9 of 9
185	185	154 SECTION 53. Said section 19 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
186	186	155the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
187	187	156following words:- Select Board Members.
188	188	157 SECTION 54. Section 20 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
189	189	158“Selectman” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Member.
190	190	159 SECTION 55. Said section 20 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
191	191	160the word “Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the
192	192	161following words:- Select Board Members.
193	193	162 SECTION 56. Said section 20 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out
194	194	163the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.
195	195	164 SECTION 57. Section 22 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
196	196	165“Selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board Members.
197	197	166 SECTION 58. Section 23 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word
198	198	167“Selectmen”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following
199	199	168words:- Select Board Members.
200	200	169 SECTION 59. This act shall take effect upon its passage.