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General Laws

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Section 1Definitions
Section 2Authorization to adopt a plan of government
Section 3Effect of chapter on legislative powers of cities
Section 4Effect of adoption of governmental plan on ordinances, etc.
Section 5Existing organization to continue until superseded
Section 6Wards, number and boundaries to continue until changed under law
Section 7Adoption of plan; filing of petition calling for vote
Section 8Adoption of plan; form of petition
Section 9Plan A, B, C, D or E; proceeding after filing of petition; submission to electorate
Section 9ARepealed, 1961, 146, Sec. 2
Section 9BPlan F; proceeding after filing of petition; submission to electorate
Section 10Number of plans considered at election; procedure on subsequent petitions
Section 11Majority vote required for adoption of plan; effect of adoption; election of officers
Section 12Petition for other plans after unfavorable election
Section 13Duration of plan adopted
Section 14Officials to expedite transition to adopted plan
Section 15Dates of elections under adopted plan; municipal year defined
Section 16Primaries and caucuses prohibited
Section 16APlan F; primaries and caucuses
Section 17Oath of office; time of taking
Section 17ASalaries of mayor, city manager and council
Section 17BCompensation of mayor and city council
Section 17CFour-year term for mayors in certain cities; acceptance by election; application of section
Section 17DTwo-year term for mayors in cities under Sec. 17C; acceptance by election
Section 18City council; powers and duties
Section 19Duties of mayor or city manager; attendance at council meetings; disclosure of information
Section 20Passage of ordinances
Section 21Amendments and repeals of ordinances
Section 22Ordinances, etc.; passage at one session
Section 23Ordinances; publication
Section 24Adoption of plan; effect on obligations, taxes and legal acts
Section 25Employees in mayor’s office not subject to civil service
Section 26Vacancies in office of mayor or city council; acting mayor
Section 27Interest in public contracts by public employees prohibited; penalty
Section 28, 28ARepealed, 1984, 484, Sec. 42
Section 29Public contracts; form; required approvals; bond, etc.
Section 30Purchase or taking of land
Section 31School committee; membership; tenure
Section 32Superintendent of schools; election; appointment of other school employees.
Section 33School committee; powers and duties
Section 34Location and erection of schools; approvals required
Section 35Open and public meetings; yea and nay vote
Section 36School committee; filling vacancies
Section 37Initiative petition; measure defined
Section 38Initiative petitions; validity of signatures; objections
Section 39Initiative petition; passage and submission to electorate
Section 40Proceedings if initiative petition not properly signed
Section 41Contents of ballot for proposed measure
Section 42Referendum petition; effect on final passage
Section 43Submission of proposed measure to voters
Section 44Measures with conflicting provisions
Section 44APreliminary elections; contents of notices
Section 44BInclusion of name on ballot; prerequisites
Section 44CCandidates for nomination; qualifications; statement and petition
Section 44DOfficial ballot; posting lists of candidates; drawing for position on ballot
Section 44ECounting ballots; canvass of returns
Section 44FDetermination of candidates for election
Section 44GNomination of candidates; conditions making preliminary election unnecessary
Section 44HAcceptance of sections dealing with preliminary elections; submission to electorate
Section 45Provisions applicable to adoption of any governmental plan
Section 46Plan A
Section 47Effective date of plan
Section 48Mayor as chief executive officer; term of office
Section 49Party designations on ballots prohibited
Section 50City council; number; election; tenure
Section 50ACity council; filling vacancies in
Section 51Repealed, 1952, 259, Sec. 3
Section 52Appointments of employees by mayor without confirmation
Section 53Certificate of appointment
Section 54Removal of officials; exceptions
Section 55Approval or veto by mayor of orders, ordinances, etc.; overriding veto
Section 56Plan B
Section 57Operative date of plan
Section 58Mayor as chief executive officer; election; tenure
Section 59City council; number; election; tenure
Section 59AVacancies in office of mayor and council; procedure for filling
Section 60Appointments by mayor subject to confirmation; exceptions
Section 61Removals
Section 62Repealed, 1952, 259, Sec. 3
Section 63Approval and veto offer of mayor
Section 64Plan C
Section 65Effective date of plan adopted
Section 66City council; powers and duties
Section 67Membership; duties of individual commissioners; tenure
Section 68Terms of office
Section 69Organization; oath of office
Section 70Meetings
Section 71Quorum; open and public meetings; duties of city clerk; method of voting
Section 72Powers and duties
Section 73Methods of action; itemization of appropriations
Section 74Mayor; status; powers and duties; acting mayor
Section 75Distribution of executive powers; determination of policies
Section 76Appointment and removal of department heads
Section 77Department records; publication of reports
Section 78Repealed, 1952, 259, Sec. 3
Section 79Plan D; effective date
Section 80Definitions
Section 81Management and control of city government by mayor and council
Section 82City council, membership; election; terms
Section 83City council; powers and duties; organization; oaths of office
Section 84Meetings of city council
Section 85City council; quorum; duties of city clerk; records; procedure
Section 86Mayor; powers and duties
Section 87Repealed, 1952, 259, Sec. 3
Section 88Vacancies
Section 89City manager; qualifications; tenure; compensation; removal
Section 90Powers and duties of city manager
Section 91City officers and employees
Section 92Interference with city manager by council forbidden; penalty
Section 92ASolicitation of contributions for political parties, etc., by employees forbidden; penalty
Section 93Plan E; effective upon adoption
Section 94Definitions
Section 95Governing power of city council, etc.
Section 96City council; membership; tenure
Section 97City council; powers and duties; organization
Section 98Meetings of city council
Section 99Quorum; presiding officer; duties of city clerk; voting procedure
Section 100Mayor; official head of city; powers and duties; vice-chairman
Section 101Repealed, 1952, 259, Sec. 3
Section 102Vacancies in elective bodies
Section 103City manager; appointment; qualifications; compensation; removal
Section 104Powers, rights and duties of city manager
Section 105City officers and employees; appointments and removals
Section 106Officers and employees; regulations; penalty for violations
Section 107Interference with city manager by council forbidden; penalty
Section 108Solicitation of political contributions by employees; penalties
Section 109Regular municipal election; date
Section 110Candidates; statement and petition
Section 111Nomination papers
Section 112Ballots; form and contents
Section 113Preparing ballots, etc.; procedure
Section 114Counting of ballots; procedure
Section 115Repealed, 1972, 596, Sec. 1
Section 116General election laws; applicability
Section 117Plan F
Section 118Operative date
Section 119Mayor; election; term
Section 120Legislative powers; election and term of city council
Section 121Vacancies
Section 122Appointments
Section 123Certificate of appointment
Section 124Removal of heads of departments
Section 125Ordinances and resolutions; approval by mayor
Section 126Regular municipal election; date; nomination papers
Section 127General election laws; applicability
Section 128City defined
Section 129Referendum; questions submitted; petition
Section 130Election results; superseding of city charter provisions; election of organization members; commencement of term
Section 131Division of city into districts; time; ordinance; district description; redistricting
Section 132Failure of timely districting
Section 133Date of municipal elections; municipal year
Section 134Residence of district members