Bill > H3968

This bill authorizes the town of Plymouth to make several changes to its charter, which is the foundational document governing the town's operations. Specifically, it mandates that a roll call vote, where each member's vote is individually recorded, will be required for all final decisions on warrant articles (proposals brought before town meetings) and for matters concerning zoning by-laws, general by-laws, and fiscal matters, which include any appropriations, borrowing, fund transfers, or the creation or re-authorization of special funds, though the moderator can opt for a minority roll call if a vote is nearly unanimous. The bill also establishes that the Director of the Department of Public Works will be appointed by the Town Manager and must possess a Master's Degree in a related field, while removing provisions related to the election of town moderators and assistant moderators. Furthermore, it clarifies that no representative town meeting member or elected town official representing the entire town can simultaneously hold another elected town office, except for a position on a charter commission, and that election to any county, state, or federal office will disqualify them from their town office. Finally, the bill changes a reference from "second" to "third" in section 5-1-1 of the charter, and the act will become effective upon its passage.