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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5521 FILED ON: 11/26/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5134
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kimberly N. Ferguson and Peter J. Durant
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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 increasing membership on the town of Paxton select board.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester11/19/2024Peter J. DurantWorcester and Hampshire12/3/2024 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5521 FILED ON: 11/26/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5134
By Representative Ferguson of Holden and Senator Durant, a joint petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 5134) of Kimberly N. Ferguson and Peter J. Durant (by vote of the town) relative to
increasing the membership of the select board in the town of Paxton. Municipalities and
Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
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 increasing membership on the town of Paxton select board.
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 122 of the acts of 2013 is hereby amended by replacing “board of
2selectmen” with “select board” in all instances.
3 SECTION 2. Section 3 of chapter 122 of the acts of 2013 is hereby amended by striking
4out said section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following section:
5 SECTION 3. There shall be a select board, formerly known as the board of selectmen,
6consisting of five members elected by the voters by ballot at the annual town election for three-
7year terms so arranged that the term of office of two members shall expire in each of two
8successive years, with the term of office of the fifth member to expire the following year. The
9executive powers of the town shall be vested in the select board. The select board shall have all
10of the powers and duties given to boards of selectmen or select boards under the constitution and
11laws of the commonwealth and such additional powers and duties as may be authorized by this 2 of 3
12act, by by-law or by other town meeting vote. The select board shall cause the laws and orders
13for the government of the town to be enforced and shall cause a record of its official acts to be
14maintained. The select board shall be the chief policy making board of the town and shall act by
15the issuance of policy statements and guidelines to be followed and implemented by all town
16agencies serving under the board.
17 The select board shall be the licensing authority of the town and may: issue licenses;
18make necessary rules and regulations regarding the issuance of such licenses; attach conditions
19and restrictions thereto as it deems to be in the public interest; and enforce the laws relating to all
20businesses for which it issues licenses.
21 To aid the select board in the conduct of its official business duties, the select board shall
22appoint a town administrator who shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
23 The select board shall also appoint a board of registrars, town counsel, town auditor, dog
24officer, building commissioner and fence viewer. The select board shall also appoint members to
25the capital improvement committee, Paxton housing partnership, zoning board of appeals,
26historical commission, historic district commission, open space committee, council on aging,
27conservation commission, master plan implementation committee and such other boards,
28committees and commissions as may be duly constituted from time to time.
29 SECTION 3. Those members of the select board, formerly known as the board of
30selectmen, in office at the time of the passage of this act shall serve until the terms for which
31they were elected shall have expired.
32 SECTION 4. Upon passage of this act, at the next annual town election in Paxton there
33shall be elected three select board members, one for a three-year term, one for a two-year term, 3 of 3
34and one for a one-year term. At each annual town election thereafter, there shall be elected one
35or two select board members each for a three-year term, such as to maintain a five-member board
36with staggered three-year terms.
37 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.