Bill > S2953

This bill proposes several amendments to the charter of the town of Natick, Massachusetts, primarily to clarify and strengthen the roles and responsibilities of town officials, particularly the Town Moderator and the Town Manager. Key provisions include giving the Town Moderator oversight of lists of eligible individuals for town meeting vacancies and the authority to fill those vacancies if the Town Clerk fails to do so, as well as establishing a more detailed process for filling vacancies through appointments and caucuses. The bill also clarifies the Town Moderator's ability to require town agency representatives to attend town meetings for informational purposes and expands the definition of "local newspaper" for public notices to include the town's website and social media. A significant portion of the bill focuses on defining and expanding the powers and duties of the Town Manager, making them the chief administrative officer responsible for overseeing town affairs, personnel, and finances, while also outlining the process for their appointment, performance review, and removal by the Select Board. Additionally, the bill updates procedures for budget submission and review, clarifies appointment powers for various town positions, and ensures that the charter and by-laws take precedence over other organizational changes. Finally, it includes provisions for gender-neutral language and requires a town-wide ballot question for the acceptance of these charter amendments.

Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading (Senate)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2953