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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2696 FILED ON: 2/25/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 20
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Kelly A. Dooner
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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 amending the charter of the town of Seekonk.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Kelly A. DoonerThird Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 14
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2696 FILED ON: 2/25/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 20
By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 20) of Kelly A. Dooner (by vote of
the town) for legislation to amend the charter of the town of Seekonk. Municipalities and
Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act amending the charter of the town of Seekonk.
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. The charter of the Town of Seekonk, on file in the office of the archivist of
2the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby
3amended by striking out in section 2 of article 1 the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in
4place thereof the words:- Select Board.
5 SECTION 2. Section 5 of said article 1 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out
6in the definition of the word "resolution" the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place
7thereof the following words:- Select Board.
8 SECTION 3. Section 5 of article 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out in
9the paragraph labeled "special meetings" the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place
10thereof the following words:- Select Board. 2 of 14
11 SECTION 4. The first sentence of section 6 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby
12amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
13words:- Select Board.
14 SECTION 5. The second sentence of said section 6 of said article 2 of said charter is
15hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
16the words:-- Select Board.
17 SECTION 6. The third sentence of section 7 of said article 2 of said charter is hereby
18amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
19following words:-- Select Board.
20 SECTION 7. Section 3 of article 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the
21words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Select Board.
22 SECTION 8. Subsection (A) of section 1 of article 4 of said charter is hereby amended by
23striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
24Select Board.
25 SECTION 9. The first sentence of section 3 of said article 4 of said charter is hereby
26amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
27following words:-- Select Board.
28 SECTION 10. The subheading of article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking
29from the subheading the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the following
30words:-- Select Board. 3 of 14
31 SECTION 11. The first sentence of section 1 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby
32amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
33words:- Select Board.
34 SECTION 12. The second sentence of said section 1 of said article 5 of said charter is
35hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
36the words:-- Select Board.
37 SECTION 13. The third sentence of said section 1 of said article 5 of said charter is
38hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
39the words:-- Select Board.
40 SECTION 14. The first sentence of section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby
41amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
42words:- Select Board.
43 SECTION 15. The second sentence of said section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is
44hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" in each instance in which they
45appear and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
46 SECTION 16. The third sentence of said section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is
47hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
48the words:-- Select Board.
49 SECTION 17. The fourth sentence of said section 2 of said article 5 of said charter is
50hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
51the words:-- Select Board. 4 of 14
52 SECTION 18. The first sentence of section 3 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby
53amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
54words:- Select Board.
55 SECTION 19. Subsection (A) of said section 3 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby
56amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
57words:- Select Board.
58 SECTION 20. The first sentence of subsection (B) of said section 3 of said article 5 of
59said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in
60place thereof the words:- Select Board.
61 SECTION 21. The second sentence of said subsection (B) of said section 3 of said article
625 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting
63in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
64 SECTION 22. The third sentence of said subsection (B) of said section 3 of said article 5
65of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting
66in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
67 SECTION 23. The first sentence of subsection (C) of said section 3 of said article 5 of
68said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in
69place thereof the words:- Select Board.
70 SECTION 24. Section 4 of said article 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out
71the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board. 5 of 14
72 SECTION 25. The second sentence of section 1 of article 6 of said charter is hereby
73amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
74words:- Select Board.
75 SECTION 26. The second sentence of section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
76amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
77words:- Select Board.
78 SECTION 27. The second sentence of the second paragraph of said section 2 of said
79article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and
80inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
81 SECTION 28. Subsection (A) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
82amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
83words:- Select Board.
84 SECTION 29. Subsection (B) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
85amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
86words:- Select Board.
87 SECTION 30. Subsection (C) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
88amended by striking it in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
89subsection:-The Town Administrator shall attend all sessions of the town meeting and answer all
90questions concerning warrant articles which are directed to the Town Administrator and which
91relate to matters under their general supervision. 6 of 14
92 SECTION 31. Subsection (D) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
93amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
94words:- Select Board.
95 SECTION 32. Subsection (F) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
96amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" in each instance in which they appear
97and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
98 SECTION 33. Subsection (G) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
99amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
100words:- Select Board.
101 SECTION 34. Subsection (H) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
102amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
103subsection:- The Town Administrator may at any time inquire into the conduct of any office or
104any town officer, employee, and department or agency under the Town Administrator's
105jurisdiction and control.
106 SECTION 35. Subsection (I) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
107amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
108subsection:- The Town Administrator shall be responsible for the negotiation of all contracts
109involving any subject within the Town Administrator's jurisdiction. All such contracts as may be
110proposed by the Town Administrator shall be subject to final approval and execution by the
111Select Board. The Select Board may authorize the Town Administrator to execute any such
112approved contract on behalf of the town. The Town Administrator shall be included in the
113negotiations for the School Department to the extent required by statute. 7 of 14
114 SECTION 36. The second sentence of subsection (J) of said section 2 of said article 6 of
115said charter is hereby amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the
116following new sentence:- The Town Administrator shall, in conjunction with that Board, prepare
117and maintain a plan establishing the personnel staffing requirements for each town agency or
118department within the Town Administrator's jurisdiction.
119 SECTION 37. Subsection (K) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
120amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
121subsection:- The Town Administrator shall be the Chief Procurement Officer for the town and be
122responsible for the purchase of all common-use supplies, materials and equipment for the Town,
123to the extent permitted by state law, excepting books and other educational materials for schools
124and books and other medial materials for the libraries. The Town Administrator shall approve the
125award of all contracts for all town departments with the exception of the School Department,
126subject to the approval of the Select Board.
127 SECTION 38. Subsection (L) of said section 2 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
128amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
129subsection:- The Town Administrator shall perform any other duties required of them under this
130Charter, the Town of Seekonk by-laws, town meeting vote or a vote of the Select Board.
131 SECTION 39. The first sentence of section 3 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
132amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
133words:- Select Board. 8 of 14
134 SECTION 40. The second sentence of said section 3 of said article 6 of said charter is
135hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
136the words:- Select Board.
137 SECTION 41. The first sentence of section 4 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
138amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
139words:- Select Board.
140 SECTION 42. The second sentence of said section 4 of said article 6 of said charter is
141hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
142the words:- Select Board.
143 SECTION 43. The third sentence of said section 4 of said article 6 of said charter is
144hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
145the words:- Select Board.
146 SECTION 44. The first sentence of section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
147amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
148words:- Select Board.
149 SECTION 45. The first sentence of subsection (A) of said section 5 of said article 6 of
150said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in
151place thereof the words:- Select Board.
152 SECTION 46. Subsection (B) of said section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
153amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
154subsection:- Within five (5) days ofreceipt of the Board's preliminary resolution, the Town 9 of 14
155Administrator may request a public hearing by filing a written request for such a hearing with the
156Select Board. Thereafter, a public hearing shall be held not more than thirty (30) days after the
157request is filed, nor sooner than twenty (20) days after the filing of the request. The Town
158Administrator may file a written statement in justification of their tenure in office with the Select
159Board, provided any such statement is received by the Board not more than forty-eight (48)
160hours in advance of the public hearing.
161 SECTION 47. Subsection (C) of said section 5 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby
162amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
163subsection:- The Select Board may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made
164effective immediately, by affirmative vote of the majority of the full Board, at any time after ten
165(10) days following the date of delivery of a copy of the preliminary resolution to the Town
166Administrator, if the Town Administrator has not requested a public hearing, or at any time after
167the public hearing if they have requested one. Within ten (10) days following the vote to make
168the resolution final, but in no event more than forty-five (45) days following the date of adoption
169of the preliminary resolution, the Select Board shall, by a majority vote of the full Board, either
170affirm or deny the final resolution ofremoval. Failure to affirm a final resolution ofremoval shall
171nullify the vote to remove the Town Administrator.
172 SECTION 48. The second sentence of subsection (D) of said section 5 of said article 6 of
173said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" in each instance
174in which they appear and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
175 SECTION 49. Section 6 of said article 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking it
176out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new section:- 10 of 14
177 The Town Administrator shall recommend the appointment of the following board and
178commission members to the Select Board for approval:
179 BOARD/COMMISSION NUMBER OF MEMBERS
180 Zoning Board of Appeals 5 and 3 alternate members
181 Board of Health* 5
182 Board of Registrars other than Town Clerk3
183 Parks and Recreation Committee 5
184 Human Services Council 7
185 Conservation Commission5
186 Arts Council Commission 5
187 Historical Commission 7
188 Recycling Committee Min 3, max. 7
189 Capital Improvement Committee 4 members and 3 additional appointed by
190Moderator
191 *The Board of Health shall appoint a Health Agent and additional personnel for the
192board; such employees shall not be current board members.
193 Other committees appointed by the Select Board pursuant to MGL, town by-law or town
194meeting action. 11 of 14
195 The Town Administrator shall recommend the appointment of the following town
196officers to the Select Board for approval: Police Chief, Fire Chief, Superintendent of Public
197Works, Building Inspector, Zoning Officer, Town Treasurer/Town Collector, Human Services
198Director, Communications Director, Veteran's Agent, Animal Control Officer, Park and
199Recreation Director, Emergency Management Director, Sealer of Weights & Measures,
200Plumbing Inspector, Gas Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, director of
201Finance and any other positions of the level of department head under the jurisdiction of the
202Select Board.
203 The board or commission members and officers of the town appointed under this article
204shall serve for three (3) year terms, unless otherwise removed as provided in Article Eight, or
205removed in accordance with the provisions of the town's personnel by-law.
206 Recommendations made by the Town Administrator shall become effective on the fifteen
207(15th) day following the day on which notice of the appointment is filed with the Select Board
208unless the Select Board shall, within said period, by a majority vote of the board, vote to reject
209any such recommendation or has vote to sooner affirm the appointment.
210 SECTION 50. The first sentence of section 1 of article 7 of said charter is hereby
211amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
212words:- Select Board.
213 SECTION 51. The fourth sentence of section 1 of article 7 of said charter is hereby
214amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
215words:- Select Board. 12 of 14
216 SECTION 52. The first sentence of section 3 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
217amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
218words:- Select Board.
219 SECTION 53. The second sentence of said section 3 of said article 7 of said charter is
220hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
221the words:-- Select Board.
222 SECTION 54. The third sentence of said section 3 of said article 7 of said charter is
223hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
224the words:-- Select Board.
225 SECTION 55. The second sentence of section 4 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
226amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
227words:- Select Board.
228 SECTION 56. The first sentence of section 5 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
229amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
230words:- Select Board.
231 SECTION 57. Subsection (G) of said section 5 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
232amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
233words:- Select Board.
234 SECTION 58. The first sentence of section 6 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
235amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
236words:- Select Board. 13 of 14
237 SECTION 59. The third sentence of said section 6 of said article 7 of said charter is
238hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
239the words:-- Select Board.
240 SECTION 60. The first sentence of section 7 of said article 7 of said charter is hereby
241amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
242words:- Select Board.
243 SECTION 61. The second sentence of section 1 of article 8 of said charter is hereby
244amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the
245words:- Select Board.
246 SECTION 62. Section 5 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out
247the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
248 SECTION 63. Section 10 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking it
249in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new section:- Any member of an
250appointive board or commission of the town shall be deemed to have vacated their office upon
251being absent from five (5) consecutive, regularly scheduled meetings.
252 SECTION 64. The first sentence of section 11 of said article 8 of said charter is hereby
253amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" in each instance in which they appear
254and inserting in place thereof the words:- Select Board.
255 SECTION 65. The fourth sentence of said section 11 of said article 8 of said charter is
256hereby amended by striking out the words "Board of Selectmen" and inserting in place thereof
257the words:-- Select Board. 14 of 14
258 SECTION 66. The second sentence of section 2 of article 9 of said charter is hereby
259amended by striking it out in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
260sentence:- Except as may otherwise be provided by this charter, no regular full-time or part-time
261employee of the town shall forfeit their pay grade or longevity as a result of the adoption of this
262charter.
263 SECTION 67. This act shall take effect upon its passage.