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FILED ON: 6/3/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4708
Substituted by the House, on motion of Mr. Walsh of Peabody, for a bill with the same title
(House, No. 4403) [Local Approval Received]. June 3, 2024.
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 town meeting vacancy in the town of Burlington.
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. Chapter 686 of the acts of 1970, as amended by section 8 of chapter 160 of
2the acts of 1993, is hereby further amended by striking out section 9 and inserting in place
3thereof the following section:-
4 Section 9. (a) The office of a town meeting member shall become vacant upon their
5death, resignation or removal from office in any manner authorized by law.
6 (b) A vacancy in the town meeting membership shall be filled for the remainder of the
7unexpired term, if any, at the next regular town election if such vacancy is by death, resignation
8or removal from office in any manner authorized by law.
9 (c) A vacancy in the town meeting membership shall be filled for the remainder of the
10unexpired term, if any, at the next regular town election. When a vacancy in the town meeting
11membership occurs and no town election is to be held within 60 days of such vacancy, the
12moderator shall direct the town clerk to post notice of any such vacancy and a request for 2 of 2
13candidates. Said notice shall be published by the town clerk not less than 14 days prior to the
14next scheduled town meeting: (i) in a newspaper; (ii) on the bulletin board outside the town
15clerk’s office; and (iii) on the town’s website.
16 (d) All candidate information for the town meeting membership received by the town
17clerk shall be forwarded to the remaining members prior to the vote; said vote to take place at the
18next scheduled town meeting. The vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining
19precinct members in attendance at the next scheduled town meeting.
20 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.