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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1658 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1297
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Ryan C. Fattman
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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 authorizing the town of Wales to establish a department of public works.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Ryan C. FattmanWorcester and Hampden 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1658 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1297
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1297) of Ryan C. Fattman (by vote
of town) for legislation to establish a department of public works in the town of Wales.
Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2441 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 authorizing the town of Wales to establish a department of public works.
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 specific law, rule or regulation to the
2contrary, there shall be a department of public works in the Town of Wales. The select board
3shall appoint a department of public works director, to serve at its discretion, and may remove
4the director after opportunity for a hearing. The director shall have all the powers, perform the
5duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties now or hereafter conferred and imposed by
6law on town road commissioners. Additionally, the department shall exercise the powers and
7duties of public works operations of the town not assigned to other departments of the town. The
8Board of Selectmen may establish an employment contract, subject to annual appropriation, with
9the director for salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment, including, but not
10limited to, severance pay, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of the duties 2 of 3
11of office, liability insurance and conditions of discipline, termination, dismissal, reappointment,
12performance standards and leave.
13 SECTION 2. The department of public works established by section 1 of this act may, by
14bylaw, be granted additional operational powers and duties; provided, however, that all policy
15making functions assigned to a particular officer or board by statute shall remain the
16responsibility of such officer or board. Such operational powers and duties could include, but not
17be limited to: park and recreation construction and maintenance; tree and moth; building and
18grounds maintenance at municipal buildings, excluding the school department; other related
19construction and operations assigned from time to time by bylaw as the town meeting considers
20necessary or desirable.
21 SECTION 3. Upon the effective date of this act, the elected office of road commissioner
22shall be abolished and the term of the incumbent of such office terminated. Notwithstanding the
23foregoing, the elected incumbent holding the office of road commissioner on the effective date of
24this act shall serve as the first appointed road commissioner and perform the duties of such office
25until the expiration of the term for which the Town road commissioner was elected or sooner
26vacates the office and until a director is appointed by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with
27section 1 of this act.
28 SECTION 4. No contracts or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be
29affected by the abolition of the elected office of road commissioner or the creation of the
30appointed office of department of public works director who shall be the lawful successor of the
31office so abolished. All records, property and equipment of the offices of the elected road 3 of 3
32commissioner shall, by operation of law, be assigned to the office of the appointed department of
33public works director as of the effective date of this act.
34 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.