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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2396 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2595
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joseph D. McKenna and Paul K. Frost
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to employment within the Oxford police department.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/19/2023Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/19/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2396 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2595
By Representatives McKenna of Webster and Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 2595) of Joseph D. McKenna and Paul K. Frost (by vote of the town) relative to
employment within the police department of the town of Oxford. Public Service. [Local
Approval Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4914 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to employment within the Oxford police department.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 3-3-1 of the charter of the town of Oxford, which is on file in the
2office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the
3General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words “election officers,” and inserting in
4place thereof the following words:- election officers; and.
5 SECTION 2. Said section 3-3-1 is hereby further amended by striking out the words “;
6and (e) the Chief of Police and other police officers”.
7 SECTION 3. Section 5-3-9 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words
8“and (h)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (h) the police chief and, upon the
9recommendation of the police chief, all other sworn members of the police department; and (i). 2 of 2
10 SECTION 4. Section 3 of chapter 6 of said charter is hereby amended by adding the
11following section:- 6-3-2: There shall be a police department under the supervision of an office
12to be known as the chief of police. The chief of police shall have the authority, duties and
13responsibilities set forth in section 97A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws; provided, however,
14that the provisions of said section 97A of said chapter 41 requiring and authorizing the board of
15selectmen to appoint and remove the chief of police and other officers, to fix their compensation
16and to approve regulations governing the police department shall not apply.
17 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, section 97 of
18chapter 41 of the General Laws shall no longer apply in the town of Oxford.
19 SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the positions of
20patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant and chief in the town of Oxford police department shall be
21exempt from chapter 31 of the General Laws.
22 SECTION 7. Section 6 shall not impair the civil service status of a person holding the
23position of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant or chief within the town of Oxford police department
24on the effective date of this act except for the purpose of promotion.
25 SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon its passage.