HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4663 FILED ON: 11/1/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4157
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
(617) 725-4000
MAURA T. HEALEY
GOVERNOR
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
November 1, 2023
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 8, Paragraph 1, Clause (2) of the
Amendments to the Constitution, as appearing in Article LXXXIX of said Amendments, I am
filing for your consideration the attached legislation entitled “An Act Validating the Results of
the Annual Election Held in the Town of Deerfield on May 2, 2022.”
I am filing this special legislation at the request of the Town of Deerfield’s Selectboard.
The legislation ratifies all acts and proceedings taken by the Town at its annual town
election held on May 2, 2022. The ratification serves to resolve any question that might arise
from the fact that the warrant for the election inadvertently omitted the text of a Proposition 2 ½
ballot question which passed by a wide margin. Through that ballot question, the voters of
Deerfield approved a debt exclusion for a $3 million bond to pay for costs of upgrading the
South Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Facility. Major upgrades to that facility are already
underway, and the bond is intended to support the second phase of what is anticipated to be a
four-phase project.
Although the warrant for the election inadvertently omitted the text of the ballot question,
the full text of the question was properly printed on the ballot and posted at least 7 days prior to
the election. Timely ratification of the results of the election is necessary to permit the Town to
proceed with issuing the bond and continuing with this important public works project. I
therefore urge your prompt consideration of this bill.
Respectfully submitted,
Maura T. Healey
Governor 1 of 1
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4157
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 validating the results of the annual election held in the town of Deerfield on May 2,
2022.
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. Notwithstanding any general or special law or town bylaw or charter
2provision to the contrary, all acts and proceedings taken by the town of Deerfield at the annual
3town election held on May 2, 2022, and all actions taken pursuant thereto, are hereby ratified,
4validated and confirmed to the same extent as if the town had complied with all statutory
5requirements for posting a warrant for the meeting.
6 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.