Part I.
CHARTER, SPECIAL ACTS AND ACCEPTANCES.
Division 1. The Revised Charter.*
Article I. Incorporation: Form of Government:
§ 1.1. Incorporation.
§ 1.2. Short title.
§ 1.3. Division of powers.
§ 1.4. Powers of the city.
§ 1.5. Construction.
§ 1.6. Intergovernmental relations.
Article II. Executive Branch.
§ 2.1. Mayor– Qualifications: Term of office: Compensation.
§ 2.2. Executive powers: Enforcement of ordinances.
§ 2.3. Appointments by the mayor.
§ 2.4. Removal of officials.
§ 2.5. Temporary appointments to city offices.
§ 2.6. Communications; Special meetings.
§ 2.7. Approval of the Mayor– Exceptions.
§ 2.8. Absence of the mayor.
§ 2.9. Vacancy in office of mayor.
Article III. Legislative Branch.
§ 3.1. City council composition: Eligibility: Election and term.
§ 3.2. Organization of the city council.
§ 3.3. Compensation.
§ 3.4. Interference in administration.
§ 3.5. Exercise of powers; Quorum; Rules of procedure.
§ 3.6. Council access to information.
§ 3.7. City clerk; Clerk of the city council.
§ 3.8. Appointments and removals of city offices.
§ 3.9. Measures.
§ 3.10. Delegation of powers.
§ 3.11. Filling of vacancies.
§ 3.12. General powers.
Article IV. School Committee.
§ 4.1. Composition: Eligibility: Election and term.
§ 4.2. Organization of the school committee.
§ 4.3. Exercise of powers: Quorum: Rules of procedure.
§ 4.4. General powers and duties.
§ 4.5. School building.
§ 4.6. Filling of vacancies.
Article V. Administrative Organization.
§ 5.1. Reorganization plans by city council.
§ 5.2. Reorganization plans by administrative code.
§ 5.3. Publication of reorganization plans.
§ 5.4. Multiple member bodies.
§ 5.5. Expiration of terms.
§ 5.6. Meetings with city council.
§ 5.7. Political activity.
§ 5.8. Loss of office, excessive absence.
§ 5.9. Planning board.
Article VI. Financial Procedures.
§ 6.1. Submission of budget, message.
§ 6.2. Action on the budget.
§ 6.3. Independent audit.
§ 6.4. Capital outlay program.
Article VII. Elections.
§ 7.1. City elections: General and preliminary.
§ 7.2. Nonpartisan elections.
§ 7.3. Preliminary elections.
§ 7.4. Regular election, ballot position.
§ 7.5. Special elections to fill vacancies.
§ 7.6. Wards.
§ 7.7. Application of state election laws.
§ 7.8. Conflict of interest.
Article VIII. Initiative, Referendum and Recall.
§ 8.1. Citizen initiative measures.
§ 8.2. Citizen referendum measures.
§ 8.3. Ineligible measures.
§ 8.4. Submission of other matters to the voters.
§ 8.5. Conflicting provisions.
§ 8.6. Recall of elected officials.
Article IX. General Provisions.
§ 9.1. Charter changes.
§ 9.2. Severability.
§ 9.3. Specific provision to prevail.
§ 9.4. Rules and regulations.
§ 9.5. Publication of ordinances.
§ 9.6. Uniform procedures governing multiple member bodies.
§ 9.7. Number and gender.
§ 9.8. References to General Laws.
§ 9.9. Definitions.
§ 9.10. Certificate of election or appointment.
§ 9.11. Notice of vacancies.
§ 9.12. Enforcement of charter provisions.
§ 9.13. Annual report of the city.
Article X. Transitional Provisions.
§ 10.1. Continuation of existing laws.
§ 10.2. Continuation of government.
§ 10.3. Continuation of administrative personnel.
§ 10.4. Transfer of records and property.
§ 10.5. Effect on obligations, taxes, etc.
§ 10.6. Time of taking effect.
Division 2. Special Acts.
Division 3. Acceptances.
* Editor's Note: The Revised Charter was adopted by a vote of the people at the November 8, 1983 municipal election and replaces the Charter of Acts 1970, Chapter 543, adopted by a vote of the people.
Division 1.
The Charter.
ARTICLE I. Sec. 1.1. Incorporation.
The inhabitants of the City of Leominster within the territorial limits established by law, shall continue to be a body corporate and politic under the name "City of Leominster."
Sec. 1.2. Short title.
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Leominster Home Rule Charter.
Sec. 1.3. Division of powers.
The administration of the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the city, with the government thereof, shall be vested in an executive branch, to consist of the mayor, and a legislative branch, to consist of the city council. The executive branch shall never exercise any legislative power, and the legislative branch shall never exercise any executive power.
Sec. 1.4. Powers of the city.
Subject only to express limitations or the exercise of any power of function by a city in the constitution or statutes of the commonwealth, it is the intent and the purpose of the voters of Leominster, through the adoption of this charter to secure for the city all powers it is possible to secure under the constitution and statutes of the commonwealth, as fully and as completely as though each such power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
Sec. 1.5. Construction.
The powers of the city under this charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the city, and the specific mention of any particular powers is not intended to limit in any way the general powers of the city as stated in section 1.4. of this charter.
Sec. 1.6. Intergovernmental relations.
Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or statutes of the commonwealth, the city may exercise any of its powers, or perform any function, and may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the commonwealth or any political subdivision, or agency thereof, or the United States Government, or any agency thereof.
ARTICLE II. Sec. 2.1. Mayor– qualifications: term of office: compensation.
(a) Qualifications. The chief executive officer of the city shall be a mayor, elected by and from the voters. Any voter shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor. The office of mayor shall be deemed to be full time. During his term, no mayor shall hold any other elective public office.
(b) Term of Office. The term of office of the mayor shall be two years beginning on the first Monday of January following his election or on the following day whenever said first Monday shall also be New Year's Day and until his successor is qualified.
(c) Compensation. The city council shall by ordinance establish an annual salary for the mayor. No ordinance increasing the salary of the mayor shall be effective unless it shall have been adopted in the first eighteen months of the term for which councilors are elected, and it provides that such salary is to be effective at the commencement of the next term of office of the mayor.
Sec. 2.2. Executive powers: enforcement of ordinances.
The executive powers of the city shall be vested solely in the mayor, and may be exercised by him either personally or through the several city agencies under his general supervision and control. The mayor shall cause the charter, the laws, ordinances and orders for the government of the city to be enforced, and shall cause a record of all his official acts to be kept.
The mayor shall exercise a general supervision and direction over all city agencies, unless otherwise provided by law. Each city agency shall furnish to him, forthwith upon his request, any information, materials or otherwise as he may request, and as the needs of his office and the interest of the city may require.
Sec. 2.3. Appointments by the mayor.
(a) Appointments Subject to Council Confirmation. The mayor shall appoint all city officers, department heads and members of multiple member bodies for whom no other method of appointment or selection is provided by the charter or a general law, excepting only persons serving under the school committee, persons appointed by state officers and person serving under the city council. All such appointments made by the mayor shall be subject to confirmation by the city council as provided in section 3.8 of this charter.
(b) Appointments Not Subject to Council Confirmation. The mayor shall appoint, and may remove without making any public statement as to the reason for any such removal, the members of his own professional, administrative and clerical staff. For the purposes of this section, the city solicitor and assistant city solicitor shall be deemed to be a member of the mayor's professional staff.
Sec. 2.4. Removal of officials.
The mayor may, in writing, suspend any city officer, department head, or member of a multiple member body appointed by the mayor; and in such case, he shall at once report his action and his reasons therefor to the city council. The suspension of any such person shall, fifteen days following the date such report is made, be a removal, unless within the said fifteen days the person whose removal is sought has filed a request for a hearing on such removal before the city council. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the procedure established in section 3.8 (b) of this charter. The provisions of this section shall be subject to the civil service law and any collective bargaining agreements as may be applicable.
Sec. 2.5. Temporary appointments to city offices.
Whenever a vacancy, either temporary or permanent, occurs in a city office and the needs of the city require that such office be filled, the mayor may designate the head of another city agency or a city officer or city employee, or some other person to perform the duties of the city office on a temporary basis until such time as the position can be filled as otherwise provided by law, by the charter, or by the ordinance. The mayor shall file with the city clerk, a certificate in substantially the following form, whenever he makes a designation under this section:
"I designate (name of person) to perform the duties of the office of (designate office in which vacancy exists) on a temporary basis until the office can be filled by (here set out the regular procedure for filling the vacancy, or when the regular officer shall return); I certify that said person is qualified to perform the duties which will be required and that I make this designation solely in the interest of the City of Leominster.
(signed)
Mayor"
No such temporary officer shall be appointed for a period longer than sixty days. However, he may be reappointed for succeeding sixty-day terms without limit unless rejected by a two-thirds vote of all members of the city council. Any such temporary officer shall be sworn and give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in accordance with the provisions of law applying to the officer whose place he fills, and if he fails so to do within ten days after his appointment, the mayor shall rescind the appointment and appoint another.
Sec. 2.6. Communications; special meetings.
(a) Communications to the City Council and School Committee. Within ten weeks following the start of each fiscal year the mayor shall submit to the city council, and make available for public distribution, a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the city for the preceding fiscal year. He shall from time to time throughout the year, by written communications, keep the city council and the school committee fully informed of the financial condition and administrative problems of the city and shall recommend to them such measures for their consideration as, in his judgment, the needs of the city require. The mayor at any time may attend and address the city council or school committee in person or through the head of a department, or member of a board, upon such subject as he may desire.
(b) Special Meetings of the City Council and the School Committee. The mayor may at any time call a special meeting of the city council or the school committee, for any purpose, by causing a notice of such meeting to be delivered in hand or to the place of business or residence of each member of the city council or the school committee. Such notice shall, except in an emergency of which the mayor shall be the sole judge, be delivered at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set and shall specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is to be held.
Sec. 2.7. Approval of the mayor– exceptions.
Every measure relative to the affairs of the city adopted by the city council, except:
(a) Measures relating to the internal affairs of the city council,
(b) Memorial or other resolutions,
(c) Emergency measures passed in accordance with Section 3.9 (b) of this charter, and
(d) The budget for the operation of the city government, shall be presented to the mayor for his approval. If the mayor does approve of it, he shall signify his approval by signing it; if he does not approve of it, he shall signify his disapproval by returning it, with his objections in writing, to the city council. The city council shall enter the objections of the mayor upon its records and shall, forthwith, reconsider its vote upon the measure. If, on such reconsideration, two-thirds of the full council agree to again pass the measure, it shall be considered approved. If any measure is not returned by the mayor within ten days following the day it is presented to him, it shall be considered approved. If the city council has not voted to again pass the measure within twenty days following the date it is returned to it, the measure shall be deemed to be rejected. All votes taken by the city council following the return of a measure by the mayor shall be taken by a call of the roll. A filing with the clerk of the council shall be deemed to be a return by the mayor to the city council.
Sec. 2.8. Absence of the mayor.
(a) Notification of Intended Absence. Whenever the mayor intends to absent himself from the city for more than one business day he shall notify the city clerk and the police department of his intended absence, the expected length thereof and, in case of any emergency which may arise, the place at which he might be reached.
(b) Acting Mayor, Emergency Situation. Whenever an emergency requiring the presence of the mayor shall occur and the mayor is not available and cannot be reached as provided in (a) above, the president of the city council shall be deemed to be the acting mayor with only those powers necessary to deal with the then existing emergency.
(c) Acting Mayor, Temporary Absence. Whenever by reason of illness, absence from the city or other cause the mayor shall be unable to perform the duties of his office for a period of three successive business days, or more, the president of the city council shall be deemed to be the acting mayor. In the event of the absence or other disability of the president of the city council, the vice-president shall so serve.
(d) Powers of Acting Mayor. The acting mayor shall have all of the powers of the mayor except that he shall not make any permanent appointment or removal to or from any office unless the disability of the mayor shall have continued for more than sixty days, nor shall he approve or disapprove of any measure passed by the city council unless the time within which the mayor must act should expire before the return of the mayor. During any period in which the city council president, or vice-president, is serving as acting mayor, he shall not vote as a member of the city council.
Sec. 2.9. Vacancy in office of mayor.
(a) Special Election. If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs in the first sixteen months of the term for which the mayor is elected, the city council shall forthwith order a special election to be held within sixty days following the date the vacancy is created, to fill such vacancy for the balance of the then unexpired term.
(b) Council Election. If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs in the last eight months of the term for which a mayor is elected the president of the city council shall become the mayor. Upon the qualification of the council president as mayor under this section a vacancy shall exist in his seat on the city council which shall be filled in the manner provided in section 3.11 of this charter.
(c) Powers, Term of Office.
(1) Special Election. A mayor elected at a special election as provided in subsection (a) above, shall have all of the powers, duties and responsibilities of a mayor and shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term at the time of his election.
(2) Council President. Whenever the council president shall become the mayor, as provided in subsection (b) above, he shall have all of the powers, duties and responsibilities of a mayor but his term shall expire on the first Monday following the date of the regular city election. The person chosen at the regular city election to be the mayor-elect shall on said Monday, be sworn and shall forthwith assume the powers, duties and responsibilities of the office of mayor for the balance of the unexpired term in addition to the term for which he was elected.
ARTICLE III. Sec. 3.1. City council composition: eligibility: election and term.
(a) Composition. There shall be a city council consisting of nine members which shall exercise the legislative powers of the city. Four of these members, to be known as councillors at large, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters at large. Five of these members, to be known as ward councillors, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters of the five wards of the city, one ward councillor to be elected from each such ward.
(b) Eligibility. Any voter shall be eligible to hold the office of councillor. A ward councillor, notwithstanding his removal from one ward in the city to another during the term for which he was elected, may continue to serve and to perform the duties of his office until the expiration of the term for which he was elected.
(c) Election and Term. The term of office of councillors shall be for two years beginning on the first Monday in January following their election and until their successors are qualified.
Sec. 3.2. Organization of the city council.
The city council shall, annually, on the first Monday in January, or on the day following when said first Monday is also New Year's Day, meet for the purposes of organization. The city clerk, or in his absence the member present senior in years of service and in age, shall preside at such meeting. The city council shall elect, from among its members, by separate roll call votes, a president and a vice-president. A majority of the full council shall be necessary for such election.
The president of the city council shall preside at all meetings of the city council, regulate its proceedings and decide all questions of order. He shall have such other powers and duties as may be provided by charter, by ordinance, or by other vote as any other city councillor. In the event of the absence or disability of the council president the vice president shall act as council president.
Sec. 3.3. Compensation.
The city council shall, by ordinance, establish an annual salary for its members. No ordinance increasing such salary shall be effective, however, unless it shall have been adopted during the first eighteen months of the term for which councillors are elected, and it provides that such salary be effective at the commencement of the term of office of the next city council to be elected.
Sec. 3.4. Interference in administration.
Except as may otherwise be authorized by this charter, the city council and its members shall deal with all city officers, department heads and other persons of the city administration serving under the mayor, solely through the mayor, and neither the city council nor any member of the city council shall give any order or direction to any subordinate of the mayor, either publicly or privately.
Sec. 3.5. Exercise of powers; quorum; rules of procedure.
(a) Exercise of Powers. Except as otherwise provided by law or this charter, the legislative powers of the city council may be exercised in a manner determined by said council.
(b) Quorum. A majority of the city council shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may meet and adjourn from time to time. The affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the full council shall be necessary to finally adopt any motion, ordinance, resolution, order or other vote, except as may otherwise be provided by this charter or by general law, but not including strictly procedural matters.
(c) Rules of Procedure. The city council shall from time to time establish rules governing its proceedings:
(i) Regular meetings of the city council shall be held at a time and place fixed by ordinance.
(ii) Special meetings of the city council shall be held at the call of the mayor, as provided in section 2.6 (b) of this charter, on the call of the council president, or on the call of any three members of the city council, by written notice delivered in hand or to the place of residence or business of each member at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set, and which includes notice of the subjects to be acted upon at such meeting.
(iii) Except as may be otherwise authorized by law, all sessions of the city council, and of any committee thereof, shall be open to the public and to the media.
(iv) Every matter which comes before the city council shall be put to a vote, the result of which shall be recorded. Every member of the city council present shall be required to vote on every question coming before the city council, unless specifically excused by reason of interest.
(v) A full, accurate up-to-date record of the proceedings of the city council shall be kept and shall be available for examination of the public. It shall include a record of each roll call vote.
(vi) All petitions before the city council shall at four-month intervals be placed upon the calendar for a report of any action. Within two years following the date a petition is presented to the city council, it shall be finally acted upon by the city council, or given leave to withdraw.
Sec. 3.6. Council access to information.
(a) In General. The city council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and into the conduct and performance of any city agency, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and require the production of evidence.
(b) City Officer, Member of Multiple Member Body, City Employees. The city council may require any city officer, member of a multiple member body or city employee to appear before it to give such information as the city council may require in relation to the municipal services, functions, powers, duties or responsibilities which are within the scope of responsibility of any such city officer, member of a multiple member body or city employee.
(c) Mayor. The city council may at any time require the mayor to provide it with specific information on any matter within its jurisdiction. The city council may require the mayor to appear before it, in person, to respond to written questions presented to him. The mayor may bring with him on such occasions any assistant, department head, city officer or city employee he deems necessary to assist him in responding to the questions posed by the city council. The mayor shall not be required to respond to or to answer any question not directly related to those presented to him in advance of the meeting, and in writing.
(d) Notice Requirements. The city council shall give at least five days written notice to any person it shall require to appear before it under this section. Notice under this section shall be by delivery in hand.
Sec. 3.7. City clerk; clerk of the city council.
(a) City Clerk. The city council shall elect a city clerk who shall serve for a term of five years and until his successor is chosen and qualified. The city clerk shall be the keeper of vital statistics for the city, the custodian of the city seal, the supervisor of all election and election related matters for the city, shall issue such licenses and permits as may be authorized by general law and shall perform such other powers and duties as may be given to city clerks by general laws.
(b) Clerk of the City Council. The city clerk shall be, by virtue of his office, the clerk of the city council. The clerk of the city council shall give notice of all meetings of the city council to its members and to the public, keep the journal of its proceedings, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by this charter, by ordinance or by other vote of the city council.
(c) Other Council Staff Positions. The city council may, by ordinance, establish other staff positions to assist in the performance of its responsibilities under this charter, or otherwise. Any such ordinance as may be adopted shall provide for the method of selection and appointment, the powers and duties and the term of office of such positions as may be established. The city council may provide in any such ordinance or ordinances for a position of legal counsel to the city council, provided, however, no such position, if established, shall be deemed to involve any of the powers and duties of a city solicitor, or assistant city solicitor, to advise the office of the mayor, or any other executive or administrative agency with respect to its obligations or rights.
Sec. 3.8. Appointments and removals of city offices.
(a) Appointments and Confirmations. The mayor shall submit to the city council the names of all persons he desires to appoint to city offices, as department heads, as members of multiple member bodies, or otherwise. Appointments subject to civil service law and rules shall be made by appointing authority as provided in Chapter 31 of the General Laws. Upon receipt the city council shall refer all such names as are submitted to it to a standing committee of the city council which shall investigate all such candidates and which shall make a report, with recommendations, to the full city council not less than fourteen nor more than twenty-eight days following such referral to it. If the city council has taken no other action, such appointments shall become effective and shall be deemed to have been confirmed on the thirtieth day following the date the name has been received by the city council.
(b) Public Hearing on Removals. If, within fifteen days following the date the mayor has filed with the city council, as provided in section 2.4 of this charter, a notice of the suspension of a city officer, department head or member of multiple member body, the affected person has filed with the city council a written request for a public hearing on such suspension and removal, the suspension shall be continued in effect pending a final determination on the matter by the city council as provided in this section.
Forthwith upon receipt of such written request the city council shall schedule a public hearing to be held by it, not less than seven nor more than fifteen days following the date of the written request, at which public hearing the affected officer shall have the right to be present, to be represented by counsel, to call witnesses, to examine and to require the production of evidence.
Within fourteen days following the close of the public hearing the city council shall, by majority vote of the full council, either confirm the action of the mayor, whereupon the officer shall be deemed to be removed, or reject the action of the mayor whereupon the officer shall be deemed to be restored to his official status. Failure of the city council to take any action within such period shall be deemed to be confirmation of the action of the mayor and the officer shall thereupon be deemed to be removed at the expiration of such time.
Sec. 3.9. Measures.
(a) In General. No measure shall be adopted on the date it is introduced, except in the case of a special emergency involving the peace, health or the safety of the people or their property. Except as otherwise provided by this charter, every adopted measure shall be effective at the expiration of twenty days following the date the measure has been signed by the mayor, or the date on which it has been again passed by the city council notwithstanding the objections of the mayor, or on any later date which may be specified in said measure. Measures not subject to referendum procedures may become effective immediately. No ordinance shall be amended or repealed except by another ordinance adopted by the city council or through the procedures for citizen initiative or referendum provided in Article VIII of this charter.
(b) Emergency Measures. An emergency measure shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency measure. A preamble, which describes and declares that an emergency exists and which defines its nature in clear and specific terms shall first be separately voted upon and shall require the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members of the full city council.
Following such adoption of an emergency preamble the city council may, by a two-thirds vote, pass the measure with or without amendment at the meeting at which it was introduced. Emergency measures shall stand repealed on the sixty-first day following their adoption, unless an earlier date is specified in the measure, or unless a second emergency measure, adopted in conformity with this section, is passed extending it, or a measured adopted in conformity with the procedures for measures generally is passed extending it.
(c) Publication, Public Hearing Requirements. Every proposed ordinance or loan order except any submitted in conformity with section 3.9 (b) of this charter, shall be published once in full in at least one local newspaper and in any additional manner as may be provided by ordinance or by general law. Such publication shall also state the time, not less than seven days following such publication, and the place at which the city council or standing committee of the city council, will hold a public hearing on said proposed ordinance or loan order. In addition, such publication shall contain a brief statement of intent and purpose of the proposal.
(d) Publication of Adopted Measures. After final adoption and approval by the mayor, if required, all ordinances, loan orders and such other measures as the city council shall by ordinance direct, be published once, in full, in a local newspaper.
(e) Publication, Exceptions. If a measure required to be published in full by section 3.9 (c) or (d) of this charter exceeds in length eight octavo pages of ordinary print, then in lieu of such publication, the same may be published in a booklet or pamphlet form and made available for distribution to the public at the office of the city clerk and provided that notice of such alternate method of publication and a summary of the contents thereof shall be published in a local newspaper as otherwise provided in the said subsections (c) and (d).
Sec. 3.10. Delegation of powers.
The city council may delegate to one or more city agencies the powers vested in the city council by any laws of the commonwealth to grant and issue licenses and permits, and may regulate the granting and issuance of any such licenses and permits by any such city agency, and may, in its discretion, rescind any such delegation without prejudice to any prior actions which have been taken.
Sec. 3.11. Filing of vacancies.
(a) Councillor at Large. If a vacancy in the office of councillor at large shall occur in the first sixteen months of the term for which councillors are elected, the vacancy shall be filled by the candidate for the office of councillor at large at the preceding city election who received the highest number of votes without being elected and provided such person remains eligible and willing to serve, and further provided that such candidate shall have received not less than ten percent of the total vote cast for the office of councillor at large. The city clerk shall certify such candidate for the office of councillor at large to serve for the balance of the then unexpired term.
If there be no such candidate available, the city council shall order a special election to be held, forthwith, to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
(b) Ward Councillor. If a vacancy in the office of ward councillor occurs in the first sixteen months of the term for which councillors are elected it shall be filled in the same manner as provided in subsection (a) above for the office of councillor at large, except that the unsuccessful candidate must have received not less than thirty percent of the vote cast for the office of ward councillor.
(c) In General. No vacancy which occurs after the expiration of the first sixteen months of the term for which councillors are elected shall be filled unless failure to act to fill the vacancy would result in less than seven members serving in the office of councillor. In that event all vacancies then existing shall be filled in the manner provided above bringing the city council returned to its full complement.
Whenever a vacancy exists on the city council at the time of the regular city election the person elected at said regular city election to the seat in which the vacancy exists shall forthwith be sworn and shall serve for the balance of the then-unexpired term in addition to the term for which he was elected. If the vacancy is in the office of councillor at large the seat shall be filled by the person receiving at said election the highest number of votes for the office of councillor at large and who is not then serving as a member of the city council.
Sec. 3.12. General powers.
Except as otherwise provided by this charter or by general law all powers of the city shall be vested in the city council, which shall provide for their exercise and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the city by general law.
ARTICLE IV. Sec. 4.1. Composition: eligibility: election and term.
(a) Composition. There shall be a school committee consisting of nine members which shall exercise control and management of the public schools of the city. Three of these members, to be known as school committee members at large, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters at large. Five of these members, to be known as ward school committee members, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters of the five wards of the city, one ward school committee member to be elected from each such ward, and the Mayor as a voting member.
(b) Eligibility. Any voter shall be eligible to hold the office of school committee member. A ward school committee member, notwithstanding his removal from one ward of the city to another during the term for which he was elected, may continue to serve and to perform the duties of his office until the expiration of the term for which he was elected.
(c) Election and Term. The term of office of school committee members shall be for two years beginning on the first Monday in January following their election and until their successors are qualified.
Sec. 4.2. Organization of the school committee.
The school committee shall, annually, on the first Monday in January, or on the day following when said first Monday is also New Year's Day, meet for the purpose of organization. The mayor, or in his absence the member present senior in years of service and age, shall preside at such meeting. The school committee shall elect, from among its members, by separate roll call votes, a chairman and a vice chairman. The school committee shall then elect a clerk, or secretary, who need not be one of its members.
The chairman of the school committee shall preside at all meetings of the school committee, regulate its proceedings and decide all questions of order. The chairman shall have the same duty to vote as any other school committee member. In the event of the absence or disability of the chairman, the vice chairman shall act as chairman.
Sec. 4.3. Exercise of powers: quorum: rules of procedure.
(a) Exercise of Powers. Except as otherwise provided by law or this charter, the powers of the school committee may be exercised in a manner determined by the committee.
(b) Quorum. A majority of the school committee shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may meet and adjourn from time to time. The affirmative votes of a majority of the full school committee shall be necessary to finally adopt any motion or vote, but this shall not include strictly procedural matters.
(c) Rules of Procedure. The school committee shall from time to time establish rules governing its proceedings:
(i) Regular meetings of the school committee shall be held at a time and place fixed in its rules.
(ii) Special meetings of the school committee shall be held at the call of the mayor, as provided in section 2.6 (c) of this charter, on the call of the school committee chairperson, or on the call of any three members of the school committee, by written notice delivered in hand or at the place of residence or business of each member at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set. This notice shall include the subjects to be acted upon at such meeting.
(iii) Except as may be otherwise authorized by law, all school committee meetings, and meetings of any sub-committee thereof, shall be open to the public and to the media.
(iv) Every matter which comes before the school committee shall be put to a vote, the result of which shall be recorded. Every member of the school committee present shall be required to vote on every question coming before the school committee unless specifically excused by reason of interest.
(v) A full, accurate, up-to-date record of the proceedings of the school committee shall be kept and shall be available for examination by the public. It shall include a record of each roll call vote.
Sec. 4.4. General powers and duties.
The school committee shall have all of the powers and duties which are conferred or imposed upon school committees by law, and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by charter or by ordinance. Its powers and duties shall include, but are not intended to be limited to, the following:
(1) To elect a superintendent of the schools who shall be charged with the day-to-day administration of the school system, subject to policy directives of the school committee;
(2) To appoint all other officers and employees connected with the school system, fix their salaries, define their duties, make rules concerning their tenure of office, and to discharge them;
(3) To make all reasonable rules and regulations for the management of the public school system and for conducting the business of the school committee as may be deemed necessary or desirable;
(4) To provide ordinary maintenance and repairs on all school buildings and property; provided, however, that no sum appropriated for a specific capital expenditure, shall be transferred and used for any other purpose without the prior approval of the mayor and city council.
Sec. 4.5. School building.
Whenever, in the opinion of the school committee, a new school building is required or material alterations are needed in any existing facility, it shall send a written communication to the mayor and to the city council stating in clear, specific terms the nature of the further provisions for schools which are needed and the school committee's solution to the problem. No school building shall be located, built, or materially altered until the school committee shall have been consulted and had full opportunity to set forth its requirements.
Sec. 4.6. Filling of vacancies.
If a vacancy shall occur in the school committee, it shall be filled in the same manner as is provided in section 3.11 of this charter for the filling of vacancies on the city council.
ARTICLE V. Sec. 5.1. Reorganization plans by city council.
Except as prohibited by general law or by the charter, the city council may by ordinance, reorganize, consolidate, or abolish in whole or in part, any existing city agency, establish new city agencies and prescribe the functions of any city agency. Any city agency under the direction and supervision of the mayor shall be headed and administered by officers appointed by him.
Sec. 5.2. Reorganization plans by administrative code.
(a) Submission. The mayor may from time to time prepare and submit to the city council proposed reorganization plans which may, unless prohibited by general law or by the charter, reorganize, consolidate, or abolish in whole or in part, any existing city agency, establish new city agencies, and prescribe the functions of any city agency. Each such reorganization plan shall be accompanied by an explanatory message when submitted to the city council.
(b) Council Action. Each proposed reorganization plan submitted by the mayor shall upon receipt by the city council be referred to a standing committee for study and report. Within thirty days following the date on which a reorganization proposal is referred to a committee the said committee shall hold a public hearing concerning the proposal. Within fourteen days following the conclusion of the public hearing the committee shall file a report with the full city council stating either approval or disapproval of the proposed reorganization plan. A reorganization plan shall become effective on the ninetieth day following the day it is received by the city council, unless a later date is specified in the proposal, or unless the city council has sooner voted to disapprove of it. A reorganization plan submitted by the mayor under this section shall either be approved or disapproved in the form submitted and shall not be subject to amendment by the city council.
Sec. 5.3. Publication of reorganization plans.
An up-to-date record of all reorganization plans adopted under section 5.2 of this charter shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk and copies of all such plans shall be published as an appendix to any publication of the city ordinances.
Sec. 5.4. Multiple member bodies.
Except as otherwise required by law, all multiple member bodies established in the city shall consist of three or more members appointed for terms of three years each, arranged so that, as nearly as possible, an equal number of terms as is possible shall expire each year.
Sec. 5.5. Expiration of terms.
Every appointment to a city office or as a member of a multiple member body shall begin on the fifteenth day of April for the term specified in the charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
Sec. 5.6. Meetings with city council.
The city council shall, at least once during each two-year term, hold a joint meeting with each multiple member body of the city for the purpose of sharing information and concerns. Where appropriate, the city council may meet with two or more multiple member bodies which deal with the same or related subject matters at the same meeting.
Sec. 5.7. Political activity.
Any city officer, member of a multiple member body, or city employee may in his capacity as a private citizen become involved in the political campaign of any candidate for city office or in favor of or in opposition to any question relating to a city matter which is to go before the voters, provided, however, that personal participation by any such person shall not be made while engaged in his municipal activity and, further, that no use whatsoever shall be made of the facilities, title, or other description of the position or employment held.
Sec. 5.8. Loss of office, excessive absence.
If any person who is appointed to serve as a member of a multiple member body shall fail to attend six or more consecutive meetings of the body, or more than one-half of the meetings held in any one calendar year, the remaining members of the multiple member body may, after not less than fourteen days notice in writing of their intention so to do delivered to the last known place of residence of such person and also by delivery of a copy or any such notice to the office of the mayor, declare the place of such person on the multiple member body vacant.
Sec. 5.9. Planning board.
There shall be a planning board as provided in Chapter 41 of the General Laws. The board shall employ professional services and staff to assist it in the exercise of its responsibilities. Such services shall include a consultant or planning director who shall be appointed by the board to serve full-time.
ARTICLE VI. Sec. 6.1. Submission of budget, message.
Within the period prescribed by law the mayor shall submit to the city council a proposed operating budget which shall provide a complete financial plan of all city funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year, an accompanying budget message and supporting documents.
The message of the mayor shall explain the proposed operating budget for all city agencies, both in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs. It shall outline proposed financial policies of the city for the ensuing fiscal year, describe the important features of the budget, indicate any major changes from the current fiscal year in terms of policies, expenditures or revenues, together with the reasons for such changes, summarize the city's debt position and include such other material as the mayor deems desirable or the city council may reasonably require.
Sec. 6.2. Action on the budget.
(a) Public Hearing. The city council shall, within seven days following the date on which it receives the proposed operating budget from the mayor, publish in one or more local newspapers the general summary of the proposed budget as submitted by the mayor and a notice stating: (1) the times and places at which complete copies of the budget, message and supporting documents are available for examination by the public, and (2) the date, time and place, not less than ten days following such publication, at which the city council, or a standing committee of the city council, will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget as submitted by the mayor.
(b) Adoption. The city council shall adopt the budget, with or without amendment, within forty-five days following the day the budget is received by it, or such other period as may be provided by general law. In amending the budget the city council may delete or decrease any programs or amounts, except any expenditures required by law, or for debt service. If the city council fails to take action with respect to any item in the proposed budget within the time allowed, as above, such amount shall, without any action by the city council, become a part of the appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year and shall be available for the purposes specified.
Sec. 6.3. Independent audit.
At least once in every two years an outside audit of the books and accounts of the city shall be made. In the event that the commonwealth shall fail in any such period to provide for such an audit to be conducted within sixty days following the date a written request it do so is made by the city council, the city council shall provide for such audit to be conducted by a certified public accountant, or firm of such accountants.
Sec. 6.4. Capital outlay program.
(a) Submission. The mayor shall prepare and submit to the city council a five-year capital outlay program at least three months prior to the final date for submission of a proposed operating budget; provided however, no mayor shall in the first year in which he holds the office be required to submit such a program.
(b) Contents. The capital outlay program in the form submitted, shall include:
(1) A clear general summary of its contents;
(2) A listing of all capital expenditures which are proposed to be made during the five fiscal years next ensuing, with appropriate financial and other details regarding each proposed expenditure;
(3) The estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining any new facility or piece of major equipment involved.
The above information is to be revised and extended in each annual report.
ARTICLE VII. Sec. 7.1. City elections: general and preliminary.
(a) Regular Elections. The regular city election shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each odd-numbered year.
(b) Preliminary Elections. A preliminary election, for the purpose of nominating candidates for city offices shall be held not sooner than the sixth Tuesday nor later than the fourth Tuesday preceding each regular city election. The mayor and city council shall, not less than sixty days prior to any date so established, designate the date for such preliminary election.
Sec. 7.2. Nonpartisan elections.
All elections for city offices shall be nonpartisan, and election ballots for city elections shall be printed without any party mark, emblem or other designation.
Sec. 7.3. Preliminary elections.
(a) Signature Requirements. The number of signatures of voters required to place the name of a candidate on the official ballots to be used at a preliminary election shall be as follows: for the office of mayor not less than three hundred such signatures, not more than one hundred of which shall be from any one ward; for the office of city councillor at large, or school committee member at large, not less than two hundred such signatures, not more than seventy-five of which shall be from any one ward; for the office of ward councillor or ward school committee member, not less than fifty signatures of voters in the ward from which the nomination is sought.
(b) Ballot Position. The order in which the names of candidates appear on the official ballots for use at a preliminary election shall be determined by a drawing by lot conducted by the city clerk in the presence of the candidates, or their representatives.
(c) Determination of Candidates for Election. The two persons receiving at a preliminary election the highest number of votes for nomination to that office shall be the only candidates whose names shall be printed on the official ballot to be used at the regular election. No acceptance of a nomination shall be necessary to its validity. If two or more persons are to be elected to the same office at the regular election, the several persons equal in number to twice the number of persons so to be elected shall be the only candidates for that office whose names shall be printed on the official ballots for the regular election.
If the preliminary election results in a tie vote among candidates receiving the lowest number of votes which, but for said tie vote, would entitle a person receiving such vote to have his name printed on the official ballot for the regular election, all candidates participating in said tie vote shall have their names printed on the official ballot although in consequence there shall be printed on the said ballots names of candidates exceeding twice the number to be elected.
(d) Conditions Making Preliminary Election Unnecessary. If, at the expiration of the time for filing statements of candidates to be voted for at any preliminary election not more than twice as many such statements have been filed with the city clerk for an office as candidates are to be elected to such office, the candidates whose statements have been filed shall be deemed to have been nominated to said office, and their names shall be printed on the official ballot for use at the regular election, but their names shall not be printed on the ballot for the preliminary election and no other nominations for such office shall be made. If in consequence it shall appear that no names are to appear on the official ballot to be used at any preliminary election in any ward or wards of the city, no preliminary election shall be held in such ward or wards.
Sec. 7.4. Regular election, ballot position.
The order in which the names of candidates appear on the official ballots for use at the regular election shall be determined by a drawing by lot conducted by the city clerk in the presence of the candidates, or their representatives.
Sec. 7.5. Special elections to fill vacancies.
Whenever it shall be necessary to hold a special election to fill a vacancy in an elected city office other than the office of mayor, no preliminary election shall be held. All candidates who file the number of signatures of voters as required in section 7.3 (a) of this charter for the office to be filled shall be entitled to have their names printed on the official ballots for use at such special election.
If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor which is to be filled by a special election a preliminary election shall be held as otherwise provided for a regular election.
Sec. 7.6. Wards.
The territory of the city shall be divided into five wards so established as to consist of as nearly an equal number of inhabitants as it is possible to achieve based on compact and contiguous territory, bounded insofar as possible by the center line of known streets or ways or by other well defined limits. Each ward shall be divided into voting precincts in accordance with state laws. The city council shall from time to time review the ward and precinct lines to assure their uniformity in numbers of inhabitants.
Sec. 7.7. Application of state election laws.
Except as expressly provided in the charter and as authorized by law, all city elections shall be governed by the laws of the commonwealth relating to the right to vote, the registration of voters, the nomination of candidates, the conduct of preliminary, regular and special elections, the submission of charter amendments and other propositions to the voters, the counting of votes and the declaration of results.
Sec. 7.8. Conflict of interest.
No member of the school committee or of the city council shall during the term for which he was elected hold any other office or position the salary or other emolument of which is payable from city funds.
ARTICLE VIII. Sec. 8.1. Citizen initiative measures.
(a) Commencement of Proceedings. Initiative procedures shall be started by the filing of an initiative petition with the city clerk, on a form made available by the city clerk. The city clerk shall keep a supply of printed petition forms available. The petition form shall be completed by writing or typewriting and shall be dated and signed by the city clerk when issued. The petition shall be addressed to the city council or to the school committee and shall request the passage of a particular measure which shall be set out in full on the petition form.
Signatures to initiative petitions need not all be on one paper. All such papers pertaining to any one measure shall, however, be fastened together, and shall be filed in the office of the city clerk as one instrument, with the endorsement thereon of the names and residence addresses of three voters who shall be designated as having filed the same. With a signature to the petition there shall appear the street and number, if any, of each signer.
The initiative petitions shall be returned and filed in the office of the city clerk within forty-five days following the date on which they were issued and shall be signed by not less than fifteen percent of the total number of voters as of the date of the most recent city election. The board of registrars of voters shall, within ten days following such filing, validate the number of signatures which are the names of voters.
If the number of validated signatures is deemed sufficient by the board of registrars of voters, it shall forthwith submit the petition to the body to whom it is addressed and at the same time shall send a copy of their validation to the first of the three persons designated as having filed the petition.
(b) Action on Petition. Within thirty days following the date of the board of registrars certificate, and after publication in accordance with the procedures established in section 3.9 (c) of this charter, the city council, or the school committee, shall act with respect to each initiative petition by (i) passing the measure without change, (ii) passing a measure which is stated to be in lieu of the initiative measure, or (iii) rejecting it. The passage of a measure shall be deemed to be a rejection of such initiative measure. If the city council or the school committee fails to act with respect to any initiative petition which is before it within the said thirty days, the measure shall be deemed to have been rejected on said thirtieth day.
(c) Supplementary Petitions. Within forty-five days following the date on which an initiative petition is rejected, a supplementary initiative petition may be filed with the city clerk on forms to be provided by the city clerk as in subsection (a), above.
The supplementary initiative petition shall be signed by a number of additional voters which is equal to at least five percent of the total number of voters as of the most recent city election. If the board of registrars of voters shall find the supplementary initiative petition to be valid, they shall forthwith submit it with their certificate to the city council, who shall call a special election to be held on a Tuesday, not less than thirty nor more than forty-five days following the date of the certificate of said registrars of voters. At said special election the proposed measure shall be submitted to the voters, without alteration, to be approved, or disapproved. If any other city election is to be held, within one hundred and twenty days following the date of the registrars' certificate, the city council may omit the calling of the special election and provide for submitting the question to appear on the election ballots for the approaching election.
(d) Publication. The full text of any initiative measure which is submitted to the voters shall be published in a local newspaper not less than seven nor more than fourteen days preceeding the date of the election at which the question is to be submitted to the voters. Additional copies of the full text of such measure shall be available for distribution at the office of the city clerk.
(e) Time of Taking Effect. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in the affirmative, the measure shall be deemed to be effective forthwith, or at any later date as may be specified in the measure.
Sec. 8.2. Citizen referendum measures.
(a) Petition, Effect on Final Vote. If, within twenty days following the date on which the city council or the school committee has voted final approval of any measure, a petition signed by fifteen percent of the total number of voters as of the date of the most recent city election is filed with the city clerk the effect of such measure shall be temporarily suspended. The school committee or the city council shall forthwith reconsider its vote on such measure, or part thereof, and, if such measure is not rescinded by the school committee or the city council, the city council shall provide for the submission of the question for determination of the voters either at a special election which it may call in its discretion, or within such time as may be requested by the school committee if a measure relates to it, or at the next regular city election, but pending such determination by the voters, the effect of the measure shall continue to be suspended.
No measure adopted by the city council or the school committee shall be deemed to be rescinded by the voters unless at least thirty percent of the total number of voters, as of the date of the last election, shall so vote.
(b) Certain Initiative Provisions to Apply. The petition described in this section shall be termed a referendum petition and, insofar as applicable, section 8.1 (a), (b) and (d) of this charter shall apply to referendum petitions, except that the words "measure or part thereof protested against" shall be deemed to replace the word "measure" in said sections wherever it may occur and the word "referendum" shall be deemed to replace the word "initiative" wherever it may occur.
Sec. 8.3. Ineligible measures.
None of the following shall be subject to the initiative or referendum procedures: (1) proceedings relating to the internal organization or operation of the city council or of the school committee, (2) an emergency measure adopted in conformity with section 3.9 (b) of this charter, (3) the city budget, or the school committee budget as a whole, (4) revenue loan orders, (5) any appropriation for the payment of the city's debt or for debt service, (6) an appropriation of funds to implement a collective bargaining agreement, (7) proceedings relating to the election, appointment, removal, discharge, employment, promotion, transfer, demotion, or other personnel action, (8) any proceedings repealing or rescinding a measure, or part thereof, which is protested by referendum procedures, and (9) any proceedings providing for the submission or referral of any matter to the voters at an election.
Sec. 8.4. Submission of other matters to the voters.
The city council may in its discretion, and shall at the request of the school committee if a measure relates to that body and pertains to affairs under its jurisdiction, submit to the voters at any regular city election any measure or proposed measure in the same manner and with the same force and effect as are hereby provided for submission by the petition of voters.
Sec. 8.5. Conflicting provisions.
If two or more measures passed at the same election contain conflicting provisions, only the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall take effect.
Sec. 8.6. Recall of elected officials.
(a) Application. Any person who holds an elected city office with more than six months remaining of the term of office, may be recalled from the office, by the voters, in the manner provided in this section.
(b) Recall Petitions. Thirty or more voters may file with the city clerk an affidavit containing the name of the officer whose recall is sought and a statement of the grounds upon which the petition is based. If the officer is elected at large, the names on the affidavit shall be from the city at large. If the officer is elected from a ward the names on the affidavit shall be from the ward. The ten names which appear on the petition shall be deemed to be the persons designated as having filed the affidavit. The city clerk shall, after verification of the signatures of voters, deliver to the petitioners petition blanks demanding said recall, printed forms which he shall keep available. The blanks may be completed by writing or by typewriting; they shall be addressed to the city council; they shall contain the names of the ten persons designated as having filed the affidavit and the grounds alleged for the recall; they shall demand the election of a successor to the office; and they shall be dated and signed by the city clerk. The original petition shall be kept permanently on file in the office of the city clerk.
The recall petitions shall be returned and filed in the office of the city clerk within twenty days following the date the petitions were issued, signed by at least twenty percent of the total number of voters as of the date of the most recent city election, in the whole city in the case of an officer elected at large and in the ward in the case of an officer elected from a ward.
The board of registrars of voters shall, within ten days following such filing, certify the number of signatures which are the names of voters.
(c) Recall Election. If the petition shall be certified by the board of registrars of voters to be valid, it shall forthwith submit the same with its certificate to the city council. Upon its receipt of the certified petition, the city council shall forthwith give written notice to the person whose recall is sought. If said person does not resign his office within five days following delivery of the said notice, the city council shall order a special election to be held on a Tuesday not less than thirty-five nor more than sixty days after the date of the registrars' certificate. If, however, another city election is to be held within ninety days after the date of the said certificate the city council may defer such recall election until the date of such other election.
(d) Propositions on Ballot. Ballots used at a recall election shall state the following propositions in the order indicated:
For the recall of (name of officer)
Against the recall of (name of officer)
Adjacent to each proposition there shall be a place to vote for either of the said propositions.
(e) Officeholder. The incumbent shall continue to perform the duties of his office until the recall election. If a majority of the votes cast are against the recall, he shall continue in his office for the remainder of his unexpired term, subject to recall as before, except as provided in subsection (f), below.
If a majority of the votes cast at the recall election are in favor of the recall of the officer, he shall thereupon be deemed to have been removed and his office shall be declared vacant.
A vacancy which occurs in an office as a result of a recall election shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this charter for the filling of other vacancies in that office.
(f) Repeat of Recall Petition. No recall petition shall be filed against an officer within three months after he takes his office, or in the case of an officer subjected to recall, but not recalled, until at least six months after the election at which the question was submitted to the voters.
(g) Removal Procedure for Appointed Officials. See section 3.8 of this charter.
ARTICLE IX. Sec. 9.1. Charter changes.
This charter may be replaced, revised or amended in accordance with any procedure made available under the state constitution, or by statutes enacted in accordance with the state constitution.
Sec. 9.2. Severability.
The provisions of this charter are severable. If any provision of this charter is held invalid, the other provisions shall not be affected thereby. If the application of this charter, or any of its provisions, to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the application of the charter and its provisions to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
Sec. 9.3. Specific provision to prevail.
To the extent that any specific provision of this charter shall conflict with any provision expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
Sec. 9.4. Rules and regulations.
A copy of all rules and regulations adopted by any city agency shall be placed on file in the office of the city clerk and shall be available for review by any person who requests such information at any reasonable time. No rule or regulation adopted by any city agency shall become effective until five days following the date it is so filed.
Sec. 9.5. Publication of ordinances.
The city council shall, at five-year intervals, cause to be prepared a proposed revision, recodification or republication of the ordinances of the city, which shall be submitted to the city council for action. The city council shall adopt the proposed recodification or revision, with or without amendment, or shall approve the text of the republication, prior to the expiration of the calendar year in which it is submitted to them. Revision, recodification or republication shall be under the supervision of the city solicitor, or if the city council shall so direct by special counsel engaged for that specific purpose. Copies of the compilation shall be made available for public distribution; provided, however, a fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction may be charged.
In each year between such re-enactments, an annual supplement shall be published which shall contain all ordinances and amendments to ordinances adopted in the preceding year.
Sec. 9.6. Uniform procedures governing multiple member bodies.
(a) Meetings. All multiple member bodies of the city, whether elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, shall meet regularly at such times and places as they may by their own rules prescribe unless some other provision is made by ordinance or by law. Special meetings of any multiple member body shall be held on the call of the chairman or by one-third of the members thereof by written notice delivered in hand or to the place of residence of each member at least forty-eight hours in advance of the time set, which shall contain notice of the subjects to be acted upon. A copy of the said notice shall also be posted on the city bulletin board. Except as may otherwise be authorized by law, all meetings of all multiple member bodies shall at all times be open to the public and the press.
(b) Rules and Journals. Each multiple member body shall determine its own rules and order of business unless another provision is made by ordinance or by law, and shall provide for keeping a journal of its proceedings. These rules and journals shall be a public record and certified copies shall be placed on file in the office of the city clerk.
(c) Voting. If requested by any member, any vote of any multiple member body shall be taken by a call of the roll and the vote of each member shall be recorded in the journal; provided, however, if the vote is unanimous, only that fact need be recorded.
(d) Quorum. A majority of the members of a multiple member body shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may meet and adjourn from time to time.
Sec. 9.7. Number and gender.
Words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things; words importing the plural number may include the singular; and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.
Sec. 9.8. References to general laws.
All references to General laws contained in the charter refer to the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are intended to refer to and to include any amendments or revisions to such chapters or sections or to the corresponding chapters and sections of any rearrangement, revision or recodification of such statutes enacted or adopted subsequent to the adoption of this charter.
Sec. 9.9. Definitions.
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in which the word is used, the following words as used in this charter shall have the following meanings:
(a) Charter. The word "charter" shall mean this charter and any amendment to it hereafter adopted.
(b) City. The word "city" shall mean the City of Leominster.
(c) City Agency. The words "city agency" shall mean any board, commission, committee or other multiple member body, department, division of office of the city.
(d) City Officer. The words "city officer" when used without further qualification or description, shall mean a person in charge of a department of the city who in the exercise of the duties of his office exercises some portion of the sovereign power, whether great or small.
(e) Days. The word "days" shall refer to business days, not including Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays when the time set is seven days or less; when the time set is more than seven days, every day shall be counted.
(f) Emergency. The word "emergency" shall mean a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence or condition which necessitates immediate action.
(g) Full Council. The words "full council" shall mean the entire authorized complement of the city council notwithstanding any vacancies which might exist.
(h) General laws. The words "general laws" (all lower case letters) shall mean laws enacted by the state legislature which apply alike to all cities and towns, to all cities, or to a class of cities and towns of which the city is a member.
(i) General Laws. The words "General Laws" (initial letter of each word in capital letters) shall mean the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a codification and revision of statutes enacted on December 22, 1920, and including all amendments thereto subsequently adopted.
(j) Initiative Measure. The words "initiative measure" shall mean a measure proposed by initiative procedures under this charter. (See "measure" below.)
(k) Local Newspaper. The words "local newspaper" shall mean a newspaper of general circulation within the City of Leominster.
(l) Majority Vote. The words "majority vote" shall mean a majority of the full complement of the city council, school committee or other multiple member body.
(m) Measure. The word "measure" shall mean an ordinance adopted or which could be adopted by the city council, or an order, resolution, vote or other proceeding adopted or which could be adopted by the city council or the school committee. (See "initiative measure" above.)
(n) Multiple Member Body. The words "multiple member body" shall mean any body consisting of two or more members, whether elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, but not including the city council or school committee.
(o) Referendum Measure. The words "referendum measure" shall mean a measure protested by the referendum procedures under this charter.
(p) Voters. The word "voters" shall mean registered voters of the City of Leominster.
Sec. 9.10. Certificate of election or appointment.
Every person who is elected, including those elected by the city council, or appointed to an office of the city, shall receive a certificate of such election or appointment from the city clerk.
Except as otherwise provided by law, before performing any act under his appointment or election, he shall take and subscribe on oath to qualify him to enter upon his duties. A record of such oath shall be kept by the city clerk.
Sec. 9.11. Notice of vacancies.
Whenever a vacancy occurs, or is about to occur, in any city office or city employment, except for positions covered under the civil service law, the appointing authority shall forthwith cause public notice of such vacancy, or impending vacancy, to be posted on the city bulletin board for a period of not less than ten days. Any person who desires to be considered for appointment to said office or employment may, within said ten days, file with the appointing authority a statement in clear and specific terms setting forth his qualifications. No permanent appointment to fill an office or employment shall be effective until at least fourteen days have elapsed following such a posting, and until all persons who have filed statements have been considered.
Sec. 9.12. Enforcement of charter provisions.
It shall be the duty of the mayor to see that the provisions of the charter are faithfully followed and complied with by all city agencies. Whenever it appears to the mayor that any city agency is failing to follow any provision of this charter, he shall, in writing, cause notice to be given to such agency directing compliance with the charter.
If it shall appear to the city council that the mayor is not himself following the provisions of the charter it shall, by resolution, direct his attention to those areas in which it believes he is failing to comply.
Sec. 9.13. Annual report of the city.
An annual report which contains a general summary of the activities of all city agencies shall be published at the close of each fiscal year. The annual report shall contain reports by the mayor, the city council, the city comptroller, the city treasurer, the school committee, and such other city agencies as may be required by ordinance to provide such reports. The annual report may be published in a local newspaper for the convenience of the inhabitants, and additional copies shall be made available for distribution, on request, in the office of the city clerk.
ARTICLE X. Sec. 10.1. Continuation of existing laws.
All general laws, special laws, city ordinances, orders, resolutions, rules and regulations of or pertaining to the city which are in force when this charter takes effect, and not specifically or by implication repealed hereby, shall continue in force and effect until amended or repealed, or rescinded by due course of law, or until they expire by their own limitation.
Sec. 10.2. Continuation of government.
All city agencies shall continue to perform their duties until reappointed, re-elected, or until the successors to their respective duties are duly appointed, elected or their duties have been transferred and assumed by another city agency.
Sec. 10.3. Continuation of administrative personnel.
Any person holding a city office, or a position in the administrative service of the city, shall retain such office or position or employment, and shall continue to perform his duties until provisions shall have been made for the performance of those duties by another person or agency; provided however, that no person in the permanent full time service of the city shall forfeit his pay grade, or time in service. All such persons shall be retained in a capacity as similar to their former capacity as is practicable and any reductions in the personnel needs of the city shall be accomplished through attrition, unless specific provision is otherwise made in this article.
Sec. 10.4. Transfer of records and property.
All records, property and equipment whatsoever, of any city agency or part thereof, the powers and duties of which are transferred or assigned to another city agency, shall be transferred forthwith to the city agency to which such powers and duties are transferred and assigned.
Sec. 10.5. Effect on obligations, taxes, etc.
INCORPORATION: FORM OF GOVERNMENT: POWERS OF THE CITY.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION.
FINANCIAL PROCEDURES.
ELECTIONS.
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL.
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.
| Special Legislative Acts Affecting and Pertaining to the city of Leominster from 1780. | |||
| Subject | Reference | Date of Enactment | Date and Manner of Acceptance |
| An act to annex part of No Town to the Town of Leominster | Acts, 1838, Ch. 106 | April 13, 1838 | Not required |
| An act to confirm a vote of the Town of Leominster | Acts, 1870, Ch. 230 | May 9, 1870 | Not required |
| To supply Leominster with water and make taking for that purpose in Lunenburg and Leominster | Acts, 1871, Ch. 249 | May 5, 1871 | Voters |
| An act to authorize renewance of water bonds issued by virtue of Acts, 1871, Chap. 249 | Acts, 1883, Ch. 273 | July 20, 1883 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the Town of Leominster to incur indebtedness beyond its debt limit for the purpose of erecting and furnishing a new town hall, and for school purposes | Acts, 1893, Ch. 101 | March 17, 1893 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the Town of Leominster to refund its water debt | Acts, 1895, Ch. 110 | March 13, 1895 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the Town of Leominster to incur indebtedness beyond its debt limit for the purpose of increasing water supply | Acts, 1896, Ch. 200 | March 25, 1896 | Not required |
| Authorizing Leominster to supply inhabitants of Lunenburg with water | Acts, 1899, Ch. 150, repealed by Acts, 1899, Ch. 427 | May 16, 1899 | Not required |
| Authorizing Leominster to supply inhabitants of Lunenburg with water | Acts, 1899, Ch. 427, repealed by Acts, 1899, Ch. 150 | May 27, 1899 | Not required |
| An act to allow Leominster to construct a system of sewage | Acts, 1904, Ch. 309 | May 9, 1904 | Acceptance required by voters before expenditure of money |
| An act to extend corporate powers of the Wor. Con. St. Ry. Co. | Acts, 1904, Ch. 419 | June 3, 1904 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the Town of Leominster to borrow money to complete its high school building, not considered in determining the debt limit | Acts, 1905, Ch. 225 | March 27, 1905 | Not required |
| An act to establish the boundary line between the Towns of Lancaster and Leominster | Acts, 1906, Ch. 363 | May 7, 1906 | Not required |
| An act to establish District Court of Leominster | Acts, 1910, Ch. 207 | March 11, 1910, effective July 1, 1910 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the taking of cemetery and park lands for the purpose of making a grade crossing in the Town of Leominster | Acts, 1910, Ch. 620. Repealed by Acts 1911, Ch. 586 | June 14, 1910 | Not required |
| An act relative to the taking of cemetery and park lands for the purpose of erecting a grade crossing in the Town of Leominster | Acts, 1911, Ch. 586 Repealed Acts, 1910, Ch. 620 | June 22, 1911 | Not required |
| An act authorizing the Town of Leominster to pay money to Leominster Hospital Association annually | Acts, 1914, Ch. 333 | April 9, 1914 | Not required |
| An act to incorporate the Lunenburg Water Co. Powers of Leominster to supply Lunenburg with water cease, granted by Acts, 1899, Ch. 427 | Acts, 1914, Ch. 339 | April 13, 1914 | Not required |
| An act to confirm the laying out of public ways in the Town of Leominster | Acts, 1914, Ch. 562. See Acts, 1933, Ch. 242 | May 22, 1914 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the Town of Leominster to appropriate money for the celebration of the one hundred seventy-fifth anniversary of its incorporation as a town | Sp. Acts, 1915, Ch. 115 | March 2, 1915 | Not required |
| An act to incorporate the City of Leominster | Sp. Acts, 1915, Ch. 338 | May 13, 1915 | Voters Nov. 2, 1915 |
| An act to authorize the City of Leominster to borrow money for the purpose of completing its sewage system | Sp. Acts, 1917, Ch. 360, refers to Acts, 1904, Ch. 309 | May 25, 1917 | Not required |
| An act to authorize expenditure of a sum of money for improvement of Prospect Street | Acts, 1918, Ch. 186 | June 3, 1918 | Not required |
| An act relative to improvement by the Massachusetts Highway Commission of Prospect Street in the City of Leominster | Acts, 1918, Ch. 236 | May 28, 1918 | Not required |
| An act relative to improvement by the Massachusetts Highway Commission of Prospect Street in the City of Leominster | Sp. Acts, 1919, Ch. 231 | July 15, 1919 | Not required |
| An act to establish a boundary line between Leominster and Fitchburg (refers to Monoosnock Hill and payment to City by Fitchburg) | Acts, 1925, Ch. 65 | Feb. 24, 1925 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the City of Leominster to borrow money for school purposes | Acts, 1926, Ch. 250 | April 16, 1926 | Not required |
| An act to authorize the City of Leominster to take the waters of Monoosnock Brook, a tributary of the Nashua River, for an addition to its water supply and to improve its water system | Acts, 1926, Ch. 324 | May 8, 1926 | Not required |
| An act to enable N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. to acquire and hold securities – of Wor. Con. St. Ry. Co. | Acts, 1926, Ch. 371 | May 28, 1926 | City Council Nov. 23, 1926 |
| An act to provide for the disposal of sewage from the northerly part of the City of Leominster and from a certain part of the Town of Lunenburg. Authorizes contracts between the Cities of Leominster and Fitchburg and the Town of Lunenburg | Acts, 1927, Ch. 288 | April 23, 1927 | Not required |
| An act authorizing the City of Leominster to borrow money for sewage purposes | Acts, 1928, Ch. 165 | March 26, 1928 | Not required |
| An act establishing the Doyle Field commission in the City of Leominster and authorizing said City to acquire land to be used with an existing playground for a Recreation Field and to improve, maintain, and to conduct said field | Acts, 1931, Ch. 292 | May 7, 1931 | City Council Oct. 13, 1931 |
| An act authorizing the City of Leominster to borrow money for water supply purposes outside the debt limit | Acts, 1931, Ch. 76 | March 4, 1931 | Not required |
| An act relative to the tenure of office of the superintendent of wires of the City of Leominster | Acts, 1932, Ch. 66 | March 9, 1932 | City Council June 13, 1932 Supt. of Wires City Council (Tenure by Mayor; Jan. 27, 1941) |
| Resolve providing for an investigation by the Department of Public Works as to the cost and detailed routes of two proposed state highways in or near the City of Fitchburg and of certain proposed extensions of one of said highways | Resolves of 1933, Ch. 14 | May 9, 1933 | Not required |
| An act confirming laying out of public ways in the Town and City of Leominster since May 22, 1914. See Acts, 1914, Chap. 562 | Acts, 1933, Ch. 242 | June 6, 1933 | Not required |
| An act authorizing the City of Leominster to construct and operate a system or systems of sewers and of sewage disposal so far as inconsistent, repeals Acts, 1904, Chp. 309, and Sp. Acts, 1917, Chp. 360 | Acts, 1933, Ch. 355 | July 22, 1933 | Not required |
| An act placing the office of the chief of the fire department under civil service law | Acts, 1935, Ch. 383 | June 13, 1935 | Voters Dec. 3, 1935 |
| An act providing for biennial municipal elections in the City of Leominster | Acts, 1936, Ch. 131 | March 11, 1936 | Voters |
| An act authorizing the annexation by the City of Fitchburg of a part of the City of Leominster and authorizes the annexation by said City of Leominster of a part of said City of Fitchburg (Airport and No Town) | Acts, 1941, Ch. 37 | Feb. 27, 1941 | City Council and Mayor Feb. 28, 1941 and Dec. 27, 1941 See Amendment, Acts 1941, Ch. 698; see Acts 1943, Ch. 415 |
| An act providing retirement by the City of Leominster of certain call members of the Fire Department | Acts, 1941, Ch. 582 | Aug. 1, 1941 | City Council Dec. 8, 1941 |
| An act relative to removal of snow and ice from private ways open to the public use in the City of Leominster | Acts, 1941, Ch. 657 | Oct. 17, 141 | Voters |
| An act relative to the annexation of the City of Fitchburg of a part of the City of Leominster and the annexation by said City of Leominster of a part of said City of Fitchburg and making changes in certain laws relative to the territory affected | Acts, 1941, Ch. 698, amended Acts, 1941, Ch. 37 See Acts, 1943, Ch. 415 | Oct. 27, 1941 | Effective as of the Acts, 1941, Ch. 37 Accepted although not required by City Council Dec. 27, 1941 |
| An act relative to portions of the boundary line between Cities of Fitchburg and Leominster and certain matters incidental to recent exchange of territory between said cities | Acts, 1943, Ch. 415 | June 3, 1943 | City Council and Mayor June 28, 1943 |
| An act authorizing an increase in the salary of the Mayor, see Ordinance adopted Nov. 22, 1943, effective Jan. 1, 1944 | Acts, 1943, Ch. 297 | May 19, 1943 | Voters Nov. 2, 1943 |
| Contract Provision of Charter | Acts, 1958, Ch. 382 | June 23, 1958 | City Council |
| Land Damages L. & H. Realty | Acts of 1959, Ch. 262 | May 25, 1959 | City Council |
| Contract provision of Charter | Acts of 1960, Ch. 140 | March 28, 1960 | City Council |
| Tenure of office of treasurer-collector | Acts of 1960, Ch. 227 | March 28, 1960 | City Council |
| Tenure of office of city accountant | Acts of 1960, Ch. 228 | March 28, 1960 | City Council |
| Confirming location of laying out of public ways | Acts of 1960, Ch. 308 | Nov. 29, 1960 | City Council |
| Leominster Contributory Retirement Board | Acts, 1960, Ch. 647 | Dec. 12, 1960 | City Council |
| Medical expenses of Gion Depaolis | Acts, 1961, Ch. 80 | Not required | |
| Sewers and sewage disposal systems | Acts, 1961, Ch. 337 | April 24, 1961 | City Council |
| Facsimile signature on bonds | Acts, 1962, Ch. 44 | March 28, 1962 | City Council |
| Additional water supply | Acts 1962, Ch. 537 | June 25, 1962 | City Council |
| Payment of injuries | Acts 1963, Ch. 518 | Not required | |
| Purchase of water from Wachusett Reservoir | Acts 1964, Ch. 485 | Not required | |
| Sewers and sewage disposal systems | Acts 1964, Ch. 731 | Nov. 19, 1965 | City Council |
| Leominster Industrial Development Financing authority | Acts 1967, Ch. 772 | June 18, 1968 | City Council |
| Tenure of Director of Veteran's Services | Acts 1969, Ch. 408 | June 10, 1969 | City Council |
| Wastewater treatment facilities | Acts 1969, Ch. 608 | August 14, 1969 | City Council |
| Appropriations for unpaid bills | Acts 1970, Ch. 377 | Not required | |
| Revising Charter | Acts 1970, Ch. 543 | Voters | |
| Transfer of certain lands to the State DPW for highway purposes | Acts 1971, Ch. 616 | August 5, 1971 | Not required |
| Street signs on private ways open to public use | Acts 1972, Ch. 431 | June 19, 1972 | Not required |
| Annuity to Yolanda DiPaoli | Acts 1973, Ch. 635 | Sept. 10, 1973 | City Council |
| Authority to pay bills of previous years | Acts 1974, Ch. 479 | July 8, 1974 | Not required |
| Authority to pay bills of previous years | Acts 1974, Ch. 480 | July 8, 1974 | Not required |
| Leominster Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool | Acts 1974, Ch. 513 | July 10, 1974 | Not required |
| Authority to pay bills of previous years | Acts 1974, Ch. 736 | August 7, 1974 | Not required |
| Authority to pay bills of previous years | Acts 1974, Ch. 737 | August 7, 1974 | Not required |
| Authority to pay bills of previous years | Acts 1974, Ch. 94 | May 5, 1976 | Not required |
| Authorizing State DPW to acquire certain public lands for highway purposes | Acts 1974, Ch. 194 | June 21, 1976 | Not required |
| Pension George N. Chester, Jr. | Acts 1977 Ch. 325 | June 23 1976 | Not required |
| Dr. Robert H. Goldman Memorial Bridge | Acts 1977 Ch. 891 | Dec. 30, 1977 | Not required |
| Authorizing the appointment of Clifford E. Eldridge as a permanent firefighter | Acts 1979, Ch. 161 | May 24, 1979 | Not required |
| Designating George R. Wallace Jr. High- Way and Johnny Appleseed Bridge | Acts 1979, Ch. 604 | Oct. 4, 1979 | Not required |
| Designating Representative Arthur U. Mahan Memorial Bridge | Acts 1981, Ch. 483 | Oct. 26, 1981 | Not required |
| Authorizing State DPW to take public lands in the City of Leominster for highway purposes | Acts 1981, Ch. 533 | Nov. 10, 1981 | Not required |
| Providing for preliminary elections | Acts 1982, Ch. 68 | May. 13, 1982 | Not required |
| Authorizing Retirement Board of Leominster to establish certain service by certain members of the Leominster Fire Department as creditable service | Acts 1982, Ch. 88 | May. 20, 1982 | Not required |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to grant a retirement allowance to James M. Raher | Acts 1987, Ch. 388 | Oct. 26, 1987 | City Council |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to pay a certain unpaid bill of the school department | Acts 1989, Ch. 286 | July 25, 1989 | Not required |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to increase the pension paid to George H. Chester, Jr. | Acts 1989, Ch. 549 | Nov. 21, 1989 | Not required |
| Creating the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Leominster | Acts 1989, Ch. 582 | Dec. 6, 1989 | Not required |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to borrow money to renovate certain city- owned buildings and to lease space for use as a court house | Acts 1991, Ch. 87 | June 24, 1991 | Not required |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to pay a certain unpaid bill of the school department | Acts 1992, Ch. 223 | Oct. 26, 1992 | Not required |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to allow certain public employees credit- able retirement service time for active service in the armed forces. | Acts 1996, Ch. 71 | Nov. 12, 1992 | City Council |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to delete the provision "Except that interest shall be at the rate of four percent per annum" | Acts 1961, Chapter. 337, Sec. 6 | Nov. 25, 1992 | City Council |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to grant a disability retirement to Officer Thomas Kent | Acts 1997, Ch. 41 | June 23, 1997 | City Council |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to borrow $1.3M to renovate the Gallagher Building into a Juvenile Court System | Acts 1991, Chapter 87, Sec. 1– 5 | May 11, 1998 | City Council |
| Authorizing the City of Leominster to grant a retirement allowance to John B. LaClair | Acts 1998, Chapter 457, Sec. 7 | May 26, 1998 | City Council |
| Allowing for the use of retired City of Leominster police officers below the age of retirement to perform police details | Sp. Acts 2002, Ch. 32 | March 25, 2002 | Not required |
Division 3.
Acceptances
| ____ | |||
| The Laws of the Commonwealth that have been Accepted by the Town or City from Incorporation as a Town. | |||
| ____ | |||
| Subject | Reference | Date of Acceptance | By Whom |
| ____ | |||
| To supply Leominster with pure water, also allowed taking water from Chualoom Pond, and to issue bonds in connection therewith | Acts, 1871, Ch. 249 | Enacted by legislature May 5, 1871. | Voters |
| Election of selectmen | P. S. Ch. 27 | Effective in town, prior to incorporation as a city | |
| Weighers of hay | P. S. Ch. 60, Sec. 32-34; G. L. Ch. 94, Sec. 236 | July 2, 1885 | Voters |
| Ballots, distribution of | Acts, 1890, Ch. 386 | Enacted by legislature June 4, 1890 | Voters |
| Highways and county bridges | Acts, 1891, Ch. 170; G. L. Ch. 82, Sec. 17-20 | Enacted by legislature April 6, 1891 | Voters |
| Inspector of buildings (may designate) | Acts, 1894, Ch. 481. Amended by Acts, 1899, Ch. 139, G. L. Ch. 143, Sec. 6. | Sept. 28, 1900 | Voters |
| Eight-hour day for certain city employees | Revised Laws, Ch. 106, Sec. 20; G. L. Ch. 149, Secs. 31-34, as amended Acts 1924, Ch. 237 | March 2, 1903 | Voters |
| Public playgrounds, provide and maintain | Acts, 1908, Ch. 513; G. L. Ch. 45, Sec. 15 | March 1, 1909 | Voters |
| Pensions for incapacitated laborers | Acts, 1912, Ch. 503 G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 77a paragraph | Nov. 3, 1914 | Voters |
| Compensation for injuries sustained by certain public employees | Acts, 1913, Ch. 807; G. L. Ch. 152, Sec. 69, amended by Acts, 1927, Ch. 309; Acts, 1939, Ch. 468 | March 2, 1914 | Voters |
| Promotion of call men in the fire department | Acts, 1913, Ch. 487; G. L. Ch. 48, Sec. 36; amended by Acts, 1923, Ch. 109 | March 2, 1914 | Voters |
| An act to authorize the counties of the Commonwealth to establish retirement systems for their employees | Acts, 1911, Ch. 634 | Nov. 3, 1914 | Voters |
| Vacations for city laborers (Now applies to municipal employees) | Acts, 1914, Ch. 217; G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 111, amended by Acts, 1927, Ch. 131; Acts, 1941, Ch. 368 | Nov. 3, 1914 | Voters |
| Saturday half-holidays for Commonwealth laborers, etc. | Acts, 1914, Ch. 688; G. L. 149, Sec. 41, 42 | Nov. 3, 1914 | Voters |
| Party enrollment | Acts, 1914, Ch. 790 | Effective in town prior to incorporation as city | Voters |
| An act to incorporate the City of Leominster | Sp. Acts, 1915, Ch. 338 | Nov. 2, 1915 | Voters |
| Appointment of constables and removal | Revised Laws, Ch. 26, Sec. 12; G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 91; amended Acts, 1933, Ch. 128, adding 91b. | Feb. 14, 1916 | City Council |
| Days off for firemen – one day off in five | Sp. Acts, 1916, Ch. 144 | Rejection Dec. 5, 1916 | Rejected Voters |
| Authorizing establishment of agricultural schools | Acts, 1916, Ch. 185; G. L. Ch. 74, Sec. 15, 16, 17 | Nov. 7, 1916 | Voters |
| Sale of certain articles on Sunday | Acts, 1909, Ch. 423; G. L. Ch. 136, Sec. 7, 8; amended, Acts, 1934, Ch. 373, Sec. 7; Acts, 1937, Ch. 124 | Aug. 27, 1917 | City Council |
| Two-platoon system for firemen | Acts, 1919, Ch. 132; G. L. Ch. 48, Sec. 59 | Nov. 4, 1919 | Voters |
| Continuation schools | Acts, 1919, Ch. 311; G. L. Ch. 71, Sec. 21; Acts, 1922, Sec. 401 | Nov. 4, 1919 | Voters |
| Days off for police – one day off in eight | Acts, 1920, Ch. 166; G. L. Ch. 147, Sec. 16; amended Acts, 1930, Ch. 58 | Dec. 7, 1920 | Voters |
| Accounting system | Acts, 1922, Ch. 516; G. L. Ch. 44, Sec. 36 | Dec. 5, 1923 | Voters |
| Reserve police force | G. L. Ch. 147, Secs. 11-13 | May 14, 1923 | City Council and approval of Mayor and establishment |
| Water liens | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 42a to 42f; Acts, 1927, Ch. 56; amended, Acts, 1932, Ch. 197, Sec. 2 | Dec. 14, 1925 | City Council |
| Retirement of injured police | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 84; See Ch. 32, Sec. 56 for its application to reserve policemen. See Acts, 1938, Ch. 326 | Oct. 25, 1926 | City Council |
| Building lines | G. L. Ch. 82, Sec. 37; Acts, 1925, Ch. 130 | Dec. 27, 1926 | City Council |
| Railroad securities (Wor. Con. St. Ry. Co.) | Acts, 1926, Ch. 371 | Nov. 23, 1926 | City Council |
| Holding of other office (mayor, councillor) | G. L. Ch. 39, Sec. 7 | Mar. 28, 1927 | City Council |
| Amending Charter, veto powers, etc. | Sp. Acts, 1927, Ch. 208 | Dec. 6, 1927 Rejection | Rejected Voters |
| Sunday sports | G. L. Ch. 136, Sec. 21-25; Acts, 1928, Ch. 406; amended, Acts, Ch. 104, 1935 | Mar. 25, 1929 | City Council |
| Publication of ordinances, certain conditions, a printed pamphlet | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 32A, Acts, 1929, Ch. 369 | July 8, 1929 | City Council |
| Chief of police, placed under civil service | G. L. Ch. 31, Sec. 49. (Atty-Gen's) opinion) See Acts 1911, Ch. 468 | Oct. 23, 1929 (Date of opinion) | Voters |
| The display of national flag | G. L. Ch. 54, Sec. 25A, inserted by Acts, 1930, Ch. 149 | May 26, 1930 | City Council |
| Boxing laws | G. L. Ch. 147, Sec. 32-47; amended by Acts, 1920, Ch. 619 | Dec. 2, 1930 | Voters |
| An act establishing the Doyle Field Commission in the City of Leominster and authorizing said city to acquire land to be used with an existing playground for a recreation field and to improve, maintain, and to conduct said field | Acts, 1931, Ch. 292 | Oct. 13, 1931. Effective on date of enactment – May 7, 1931 | City Council |
| Inspection of buildings | G. L. Ch. 143, Sec. 1-12 | Dec. 14, 1931 | City Council |
| Tenure of office – superintendent of wires | Acts, 1932, Ch. 66 (Amended Sp. Acts, 1915, Ch. 338, Sec. 10, Cl. 12, and Sec. 11, (Charter) upon acceptance | June 13, 1932 | City Council (Tenure by Mayor, Jan. 27, 1941) |
| Burnt or dangerous buildings | G. L. Ch. 139, Sec. 1-3 Acts 1935, Ch. 353 | Aug. 22, 1932 | City Council |
| Fire chief, civil service | Sp. Acts 1915, Ch. 338, Sec. 11 (Charter) as amended by Acts, 1932, Ch. 66, Sec. 2 | Dec. 3, 1935 | Voters |
| Retirement of policemen and firemen | Acts, 1936, Ch. 439, which refers to G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 80, 83 | Oct. 26, 1936 | City Council |
| General Contributory Retirement System | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 26-31H, under Acts, 1936, Ch. 318 | Nov. 3, 1936 | Voters |
| Biennial Municipal Elections | Acts, 1936, Ch. 131-affects election provisions of Charter | Nov. 3, 1936 | Voters |
| Salary of Mayor (See Acceptance 1943) | Acts, 1936, Ch. 122 | Rejection Dec. 8, 1936 | Voters |
| Taking of fur-bearing mammals by use of traps – operative | G. L. Ch. 131, Sec. 73 as affected by vote under Sec. 74 | Dec. 8, 1936 | Voters |
| Inspection of buildings | G. L. Ch. 143, Sec. 3-12 | June 28, 1937 | City Council |
| Policemen – one day off in seven | Acts, 1937, Ch. 85, Sec. 1; G. L. Ch. 147, Sec. 16A.; amended, Acts, 1938 Ch. 426, Sec. 1 | Nov. 8, 1937 | City Council |
| Annexation of land by Cities of Leominster and Fitchburg (Airport and No Town) | Acts, 1941, Ch. 37; see amendment adding to 37, Acts, 1941 Ch. 698 | Feb. 28, 1941 | City Council and Mayor |
| Annexation of land by Cities of Leominster and Fitchburg (Airport and No Town) | Acts, 1941, Ch. 698 which amends acts, 1941, Ch. 37, see later acceptance Acts, 1943, Ch. 415 | Dec. 27, 1941 | Effective as of the Acts, 1941, Ch. 37 Accepted although not required |
| "Labor service" placed under civil service | G. L. Ch. 31, Sec. 47 | May 26, 1941 | Voters |
| Removal of snow and ice from street open to public use | Acts, 1941, Ch. 657 | Nov. 4, 1941 | City Council |
| Retirement of certain call members of the fire department | Acts, 1941, Ch. 582 | Dec. 8, 1941 | City Council |
| Retirement of veterans of Spanish and World Wars | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 56-59 | May 4, 1942 | Mayor |
| Pension for police and firemen | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 80-83 – Affirmation | May 11, 1942 | City Council |
| Superintendent of street and sewer department under civil service | G. L. Ch. 31, Sec. 49A; amended by acts 1941, Ch. 414 | Nov. 3, 1942 | Voters |
| Retention of Herbert J. Lawson as superintendent of street and sewer department | G. L. Ch. 31, Sec. 49a; amended by Acts 1941, Ch. 414 | Nov. 3, 1942 | Voters |
| An act relative to portions of the boundary line between Cities of Fitchburg and Leominster and certain matters incidental to recent exchange of territory between said cities | Acts, 1943, Ch. 415 | June 28, 1943 | City Council and Mayor |
| An act authorizing an increase in the salary of the mayor. See ordinance adopted Nov. 22, 1943, effective Jan. 1, 1944 | Acts, 1943, Ch. 297 | Nov. 2, 1943 | Voters |
| An act permitting appropriation for uniforms for police and firemen | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 6B. See Acts 1930 Ch. 351 | Nov. 22, 1943 | City Council |
| Department of veterans' services | Acts, 1945, Ch. 723 | Dec. 24, 1945 | City Council |
| Vacation pay for certain city officers | Acts, 1945, Ch. 44 Sec. 65 | Nov. 13, 1945 | City Council |
| Nursery school | Acts, 1946, Ch. 165 | May 13, 1946 | City Council |
| Policemen – authorizing day off | G. L. Ch. 147, Sec. 16B | July 8, 1946 | City Council |
| Observance of the Lord's Day | G. L. Ch. 136, Sec. 2 | Aug. 12, 1946 | City Council |
| Retirement provisions for city employees as a result of accidental disability | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 90A | Oct. 14, 1946 | City Council |
| Firemen | Acts of 1946, Ch. 576 | Jan. 27, 1947 | City Council |
| Contributory retirement board | Acts of 1946 | Dec. 22, 1947 | City Council |
| Changes in ordinances after unfavorable action | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 27A | Aug. 25, 1952 | City Council |
| Contributory retirement board | Acts, 1951, Ch. 781 | Feb. 11, 1952 | City Council |
| Increase pensions – former public employees | Acts, 1952, Ch. 624 | Dec. 8, 1952 | City Council |
| Rent control | Acts, 1953, Ch. 434 | July 27, 1953 Dec. 14, 1958 | City Council |
| Improved method of municipal planning | Ch. 41, Secs. 81A to 81Y | Mar. 8, 1954 | City Council |
| Increase retirement allowance | Acts, 1953, Ch. 387 | May 10, 1954 | City Council |
| Increase pensions former city employees | Acts, 1956, Ch. 604 | June 25, 1956 | City Council |
| Increase pension city employees | Acts, 1955, Ch. 670 | June 25, 1956 | City Council |
| Authorizing industrial development commission | Acts, 1954, Ch. 297 | July 9, 1956 | City Council |
| Insurance benefits for city employees | G. L. Ch. 32B | Aug. 26, 1957 | City Council |
| Establish council for aging | Acts, 1956, Ch. 495 | Sept. 9, 1957 | City Council |
| Authorize use of mayor's stamp on bonds | G. L. Ch. 58, Sec. 16A | Sept. 9, 1957 | City Council |
| Pension increase city employees | Acts, 1957, Ch. 427 | Sept. 9, 1957 | City Council |
| Establishment of purchasing department | G. L. Ch. 41, Secs. 103-104 | Nov. 5, 1957 | Voters |
| No loss of pay for duty with armed forces | G. L. Ch. 33, Sec. 59 | June 23, 1958 | City Council |
| Rescinded | May 26, 1981 | City Council | |
| Absentee voting city elections | G. L. Ch. 54, Sec. 103A | Feb. 8, 1960 | City Council |
| Pedestrian regulations | Acts 1960, Ch. 810 | Nov. 29, 1960 | City Council |
| Insurance premiums | G. L. Ch. 32B | Dec. 24, 1962 | City Council |
| Insurance premiums | Acts 1962, Ch. 647 | Dec. 12, 1962 | City Council |
| Towing of vehicles | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 22D Acts 1961, Ch. 322 | Feb. 11, 1963 | City Council |
| Conservation commission | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 8C Acts 1957, Ch. 223 | July 12, 1965 | City Council |
| Union dues, payroll deductions | G. L. Ch. 180, Sec. 17A | Dec. 22, 1969 | City Council |
| Indemnification of retired police officers and firefighters | G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 100B | July 27, 1970 | City Council |
| Days off for firefighters working on holidays | G. L. Ch. 48, Sec. 57A | July 27, 1970 | City Council |
| Hours of duty of firefighters | G. L. Ch. 48, Sec. 58A | July 27, 1970 | City Council |
| Police career incentive pay program | G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 108L Acts 1970, Ch. 835 | Dec. 28, 1970 | City Council |
| Rescinded | May 26, 1981 | City Council | |
| Parking violations and fines | G. L. Ch. 90, Sec. 20C | July 12, 1971 | City Council |
| Licensing Beano | G. L. Ch. 147, Sec. 52 and 53 Acts 1971, Ch. 486 | Nov. 1971, 1973, 1975 | Voters |
| Collection of water rates | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 42A-42I | June 12, 1972 | City Council |
| Group Insurance | G. L. Ch. 32B, Sec. 9A and 9D | Oct. 24, 1972 | City Council |
| Art commission | G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 82 | Nov. 25, 1974 | City Council |
| Indemnification of officers and employees | G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 100A and 100D | Dec. 23, 1974 | City Council |
| Group insurance, retired employees | G. L. Ch. 32B, Sec. 9F | Jan. 13, 1975 | City Council |
| Funeral expenses of firefighters and police officers | G. L. Ch. 41, Sec. 100G | July 28, 1975 | City Council |
| Mutual police aid program | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 8G | Dec. 27, 1976 | City Council |
| Zoning | G. L. Ch. 40, Sec. 32 and 32A G. L. Ch. 40A Acts 1975, Ch. 808 | June 26, 1978 | City Council |
| Tax abatements for certain improvements to real estate | G. L. Ch. 59, Sec. 38 Acts 1978, Ch. 576 | Nov. 13, 1978 | City Council |
| Establishment of recreation and park self-supporting service revolving funds | G. L. Ch. 44, Sec. 53D Acts 1977, Ch. 665 | Feb. 12, 1979 | City Council |
| Providing for the expenditure by School Committee of receipts from certain programs | G. L. Ch. 71, Sec. 71E Acts 1977, Ch. 639 | June 11, 1979 | City Council |
| Relative to the qualifications of certain assessors | Acts 1980, Ch. 416 | Oct. 14, 1980 | City Council |
| Allowing certain terminated employees to continue insurance coverage | G. L. Ch. 32, Sec. 17 Acts 1981, Ch. 392 | Aug. 24, 1981 | City Council |
| Relative to parking ticket legislation | G. L. Ch. 90, Sec. 20A1/2 Acts 1981, Ch. 351 | Dec. 28, 1981 | City Council |
| Rescinded | July 8, 1991 | City Council | |
| Relative to certain real estate tax exemptions | G. L. Ch. 59, Sec. 5, Cl. 17C Acts 1981, Ch. 743 | Jan. 25, 1982 | City Council |
| Relative to establishing a reserve fire force in Leominster | G. L. Ch. 48, Sec. 59B, 59C, 59D, 59E | Feb. 22, 1982 | City Council |
| To establish a special account for sewer user fees | G. L. Ch. 44, Sec. 53E Acts 1981, Ch. 339 | Feb. 23, 1983 | City Council |
| To provide for the issuance without payment of a fee of distinctive license plates to former prisoners of war | G. L. Ch. 60A, Sec. 1 Acts 1982, Ch. 597 | March 14, 1983 | City Council |
| To regulate the operation of certain premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages | G. L. Ch. 138, Sec. 12B Acts 1981, Ch. 606 | May 23, 1983 | City Council |
| Relative to automatic smoke and heat detectors in certain public accommodations | G. L. Ch. 148, Sec. 26C | Sept. 12, 1983 | City Council |
| To make available the services of a health care organization to certain eligible retired employees and dependents | G. L. Ch. 32B, Sec. 16 | April 9, 1984 | City Council |
| Relative to the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses by certain local licensing authorities | G. L. Ch. 138, Sec. 17A Ch. 491, Acts 1984 | May 28, 1985 | City Council |
| Relative to regulating the rights of certain firefighters and police officers who were laid off in the years 1981 and 1982 | Ch. 360, Acts 1985 | Jan. 13, 1986 | City Council |
| To increase all teachers' salaries to at least $18,000 per year | G. L. Ch. 71, Sec. 40 Ch. 188, Acts 1985 | Jan. 27, 1986 | City Council |
| To accept professional development grant | Ch. 188, Acts 1985 | Jan. 27, 1986 | City Council |
| To exempt certain residential improvements from property taxation | G. L. Chap. 59, Sec. 5 Chap. 200, Acts of 1986 | Oct. 26, 1987 | City Council |
| To authorize the depositing of dividends and refunds in an employees' group trust fund | G. L. Chap. 32B Section 8A | Jan. 11, 1988 | City Council |
| To provide relief from the impact of revaluation | G. L. Chap. 59 Section 5, Clause 17D Ch. 73, Acts 1986 | Feb. 8, 1988 | City Council |
| Relative to insurance premium payable by surviving spouse; additional contribution by political subdivisions | G. L. Chap. 32B Section 9D1/2 | June 13, 1988 | City Council |
| Relative to subsidiary or additional rate; payment by political subdivisions; premium payment by retired employee | G. L. Chap. 32B Section 9E | June 13, 1988 | City Council |
| Relative to nonresidential buildings or additions; automatic suppressant or sprinkler systems | G. L. Chap. 148 Section 26G | July 10, 1989 | City Council |
| To authorize cities and towns to penalize those who abandon motor vehicles | G. L. Chap. 90 Section 22B, Subsections (b) to (k) inclusive. Amended by Chap. 213, Acts 1989 | Aug. 14, 1989 | City Council |
| To establish a special account for water user fees | G. L. Chap. 44 Section 53E. Amended by Chap. 339, Acts 1981 | March 12, 1990 | City Council |
| Relative to the removal of the $30,000 contributory retirement deduction cap; repealing the provisions of Section 50 of Chapter 367 of the Acts of 1978. | Chapter 32, Section 22 (1), Paragraph (b1/2), Chapter 697, Section 64, Acts 1987 | April 30, 1990 July 9, 1990 July 12, 1990 | Accepted by Contributory Retirement Board Approved by City Council Filed with Commissioner |
| To authorize quarterly collections of the property tax; to become effective July 1, 1991 | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 57C; Chapter 653, Acts 1989 | Sept. 24, 1990 | City Council |
| To authorize local 4% hotel-motel excise tax on room occupancy | G. L. Chapter 64G, Section 3A; Chapter 145, Acts 1985 | Sept. 24, 1990 | City Council |
| Relative to telecommunications, director assistance and enhanced 911 service | G. L. Chapter 6A, Section 18; Chapter 291, Acts 1990 | Jan. 28, 1991 | City Council |
| Relative to parking ticket legislation | G. L. Chapter 90, Section 20A; Chapter 351, Acts of 1981 | July 8, 1991 | City Council |
| Relative to teachers' pay deferral (1/12 of pay) | G. L. Chapter 44, Sects. 56-56A; G. L. Chapter 71, Section 40; Chapter 223, Acts of 1991 | Sept. 23, 1991 | City Council |
| Relative to tax abatements for qualified elderly persons | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 41C; Chapter 73, Acts of 1986 | October 28, 1991 | City Council |
| Relative to further regulating service beyond the age of seventy by public employees in the Commonwealth | Chapter 32, Section 90G3/4; Chapter 254, Section 3, Acts of 1990 | March 9, 1992 | City Council |
| Relative to local licenses and permits; denial, revocation or suspensions for failure to pay municipal taxes or charges | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 57; Chapter 640, Acts of 1985 | July 27, 1992 | City Council |
| Relative to withdrawing from Worcester County relative to dog regulations (licenses and fees) | G. L. Chapter 140, Section 147A | Sept. 27, 1993 | City Council |
| Relative to additional insurance benefits for public employees | G. L. Chapter 32B, Section 11A | Aug. 8, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to regulating cooking facilities in lodging houses | G. L. Chapter 140, Section 22A | Oct. 11, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to establishing a Disability Commission | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 8J | February 14, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to revising Chapter 40, suspend license to anyone planning or now conducting licensed activity on a delinquent property | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 57 | May 23, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to establishing a Youth Commission | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 8E | June 27, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to entering into agreement for telephone services for a period of seven years | G. L. Chapter 30B, Section 12 | July 11, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to bonds or notes issued by City during F/Y beginning 7/1/94 be secured in whole or in part by insurance | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 22A | July 11, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to Treasurer, with approval of Mayor, to issue or sell refunding bonds of the City, in whole or in part, by insurance | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 22A | July 11, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to establishing fee for fingerprinting for nonpolice purposes | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 22F | August 22, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a donation account for Office of Cultural Affairs | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | October 11, 1994 | City Council |
| Relative to Capital Investment Program Fund | G. L. Chapter 44, Sections 54 and 55 | January 1, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to agreement for banking services between City of Leominster and Shawmut Bank | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53F | March 27, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Workers Compensation Claims Reserve Fund | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 8J | June 12, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Tobacco Control Alliance Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | August 14, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a "Welcome to Leominster" sign donation account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | October 23, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a special fund known as "Cop Card Collectibles Program," under jurisdiction of Police Chief | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | October 23, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Starburst Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | December 11, 1995 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Youth Commission Donation Account, which the Mayor will oversee | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | February 26, 1996 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Home Composting Bin Donation Account, which the Mayor will oversee | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | February 26, 1996 | City Council |
| Relative to non-criminal fines of $25.00 for violations, per discretion of appropriate enforcing City official | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 21D | July 8, 1996 | City Council |
| Relative to interest rate charged to apportionment of sewer assessments | G. L. Chapter 80, Section 83, Section 19 | October 28, 1996 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a donation account for renovation of City Hall auditorium | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | January 27, 1997 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a donation account for the Historical Commission | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | January 27, 1997 | City Council |
| Relative to creating Trustees of Soldiers Memorials, and include all existing memorials to their care | G. L. Chapter 41, Section 105 | March 24, 1997 | City Council |
| Relative to accepting cost of living increase– Clause 17, 17C, 17C 1/2 or 17D; Exemption | G. L. Chapter 181, Section 181, Acts of 1995 | October 17, 1997 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Tree Planting Donation Revolving Fund Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | April 27, 1998 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Violence Against Women Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | April 27, 1998 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Library-Literacy Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | May 11, 1998 | City Council |
| Relative to establishment of a Third Street Playground Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | June 8, 1998 | City Council |
| Relative to allowing cost of living adjustment (COLA) to retirees in future fiscal years | G. L. Chapter 32, Section 103 | June 29, 1998 | City Council |
| The Laws of the Commonwealth that have been Accepted by the Town or City from Incorporation as a Town. | |||
| ____ | |||
| Subject | Reference | Date of Acceptance | By Whom |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to pension allowance adjustment for those who retired before January 12, 1988, chose Option C, beneficiary predeceased them | G. L. Chapter 194, Section 288 Acts of 1998 | September 28, 1998 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to establishment of a Legate Hill Road Reconstruction Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | October 26, 1998 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to sewer Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Lunenburg | G. L. Chapter 40, Section 4 and 4A | November 16, 1998 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to compensation of $3,000 to Leominster Retirement Board members | G. L. Chapter 32, Section 20, § 6 | November 23, 1998 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to establishment of an Elderly and Disabled Voluntary Taxation Fund to defray RE taxes | G. L. Chapter 166, Section 3D Acts of 1998 | November 23, 1998 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Authorization to incur liabilities and make expenditures for snow and ice removal. | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 31D | February 8, 1999 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to non-contributory pensioners receiving cost-of-living increase retroactive to July 1, 1998 | G. L. Chapter 32, Section 103(h) | May 24, 1999 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to cost-of-living adjustment in excess of percentage increase allowed by MGL Chapter 32, Section 103(c) | G. L. Chapter 127, Section 51 | March 13, 2000 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Police career educational incentive pay program | G. L. Chapter 41, Section 108L | January 8, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establish a Robert H. and Janet Goldman Trust Account for the Leominster Public Library | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | March 13, 2000 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Increase for certified collector's or treasurer's salary by 10% | G. L. Chapter 41, Section 108P | March 26, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Effect of military service on salary or vacation allowance of public employees | G. L. Chapter 33, Section 59 | April 23, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Sholan Farm Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | June 25, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Police Department Youth Services Donation Account | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | June 25, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to certain real estate tax exemptions | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5, CI. 17E and 41D | June 25, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to increase of tax exemptions by 20% for Clause 41D applicants, qualified veterans, and qualified widows, orphans or persons over age seventy who do not qualify | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5 | September 24, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to election workers' vacancies | G. L. Chapter 54, Section 16A | November 26, 2001 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Reduce eligibility age for a Clause 41C exemption | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5 | November 25, 2002 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Increase the maximum abatement a senior may earn each fiscal year | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5K | February 10, 2003 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Increase of optional additional real estate exemptions | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5 | March 23, 2005 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to fire prevention | G. L. Chapter 148, Section 26 I | May 16, 2005 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to fire prevention | G. L. Chapter 148, Section 26H | May 17, 2005 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to hiring outside consultants | G. L. Chapter 44, Section 53G | May 19, 2005 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Increase of optional additional real estate exemptions | G. L. Chapter 59, Section 5 | October 20, 2005 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to disability retirement benefits for veterans | G. L. Chapter 157, Sections 1 and 2 | January 31, 2006 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to sell wine and malt beverages | G. L. Chapter 138, Section 12 | June 26, 2006 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to expenses for funeral and burial of any police officers or fire fighters killed in the performance of duty | G. L. 41 Section 100G 1/4 | June 26, 2006 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to local tax exemptions for veterans | G. L. Chapter 260, Acts 2006, Chapter 310, Sections 33 and 34 | November 13, 2006 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| The Laws of the Commonwealth that have been Accepted by the Town or City from Incorporation as a Town. | |||
| ____ | |||
| Subject | Reference | Date of Acceptance | By Whom |
| ____ | |||
| Approve the filling of a formal proposal with Interagency Permitting Board for the designation of land | G. L. Chapter 43D, Section 11 of Chapter 205, Acts of 2006 | February 12, 2007 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to leaves of absence without loss of pay | G. L. Chapter 149, Section 33E of Chapter 99, Acts of 2005 | March 12, 2007 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Veteran's Monuments Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | May 12, 2008 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of School Department E-Rate Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | May 27, 2008 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Relative to adoption of 43D Policy | G.L. Chapter 43D | September 22, 2008 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Energy Assistance Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | October 14, 2008 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Tourism Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | December 8, 2008 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of "Johnny Appleseed Arts & Cultural Festival" Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | April 13, 2009 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Storm Expense Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | June 22, 2009 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Disability Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | September 14, 2009 | City Council |
| ____ | |||
| Establishment of Artist Gateway Donation Account | G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53A | July 26, 2010 | City Council |
| ____ | |||