Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 43 – City Charters | Midpage1Definitions2Authorization to adopt a plan of government3Effect of chapter on legislative powers of cities4Effect of adoption of governmental plan on ordinances, etc.5Existing organization to continue until superseded6Wards, number and boundaries to continue until changed under law7Adoption of plan; filing of petition calling for vote8Adoption of plan; form of petition9Plan A, B, C, D or E; proceeding after filing of petition; submission to electorate9BPlan F; proceeding after filing of petition; submission to electorate10Number of plans considered at election; procedure on subsequent petitions11Majority vote required for adoption of plan; effect of adoption; election of officers12Petition for other plans after unfavorable election13Duration of plan adopted14Officials to expedite transition to adopted plan15Dates of elections under adopted plan; municipal year defined16Primaries and caucuses prohibited16APlan F; primaries and caucuses17Oath of office; time of taking17ASalaries of mayor, city manager and council17BCompensation of mayor and city council17CFour-year term for mayors in certain cities; acceptance by election; application of section17DTwo-year term for mayors in cities under Sec. 17C; acceptance by election18City council; powers and duties19Duties of mayor or city manager; attendance at council meetings; disclosure of information20Passage of ordinances21Amendments and repeals of ordinances22Ordinances, etc.; passage at one session23Ordinances; publication24Adoption of plan; effect on obligations, taxes and legal acts25Employees in mayor's office not subject to civil service26Vacancies in office of mayor or city council; acting mayor27Interest in public contracts by public employees prohibited; penalty29Public contracts; form; required approvals; bond, etc.30Purchase or taking of land31School committee; membership; tenure32Superintendent of schools; election; appointment of other school employees.33School committee; powers and duties34Location and erection of schools; approvals required35Open and public meetings; yea and nay vote36School committee; filling vacancies37Initiative petition; measure defined38Initiative petitions; validity of signatures; objections39Initiative petition; passage and submission to electorate40Proceedings if initiative petition not properly signed41Contents of ballot for proposed measure42Referendum petition; effect on final passage43Submission of proposed measure to voters44Measures with conflicting provisions44APreliminary elections; contents of notices44BInclusion of name on ballot; prerequisites44CCandidates for nomination; qualifications; statement and petition44DOfficial ballot; posting lists of candidates; drawing for position on ballot44ECounting ballots; canvass of returns44FDetermination of candidates for election44GNomination of candidates; conditions making preliminary election unnecessary44HAcceptance of sections dealing with preliminary elections; submission to electorate45Provisions applicable to adoption of any governmental plan46Plan A47Effective date of plan48Mayor as chief executive officer; term of office49Party designations on ballots prohibited50City council; number; election; tenure50ACity council; filling vacancies in52Appointments of employees by mayor without confirmation53Certificate of appointment54Removal of officials; exceptions55Approval or veto by mayor of orders, ordinances, etc.; overriding veto56Plan B57Operative date of plan58Mayor as chief executive officer; election; tenure59City council; number; election; tenure59AVacancies in office of mayor and council; procedure for filling60Appointments by mayor subject to confirmation; exceptions61Removals63Approval and veto offer of mayor64Plan C65Effective date of plan adopted66City council; powers and duties67Membership; duties of individual commissioners; tenure68Terms of office69Organization; oath of office70Meetings71Quorum; open and public meetings; duties of city clerk; method of voting72Powers and duties73Methods of action; itemization of appropriations74Mayor; status; powers and duties; acting mayor75Distribution of executive powers; determination of policies76Appointment and removal of department heads77Department records; publication of reports79Plan D; effective date80Definitions81Management and control of city government by mayor and council82City council, membership; election; terms83City council; powers and duties; organization; oaths of office84Meetings of city council85City council; quorum; duties of city clerk; records; procedure86Mayor; powers and duties88Vacancies89City manager; qualifications; tenure; compensation; removal90Powers and duties of city manager91City officers and employees92Interference with city manager by council forbidden; penalty92ASolicitation of contributions for political parties, etc., by employees forbidden; penalty93Plan E; effective upon adoption94Definitions95Governing power of city council, etc.96City council; membership; tenure97City council; powers and duties; organization98Meetings of city council99Quorum; presiding officer; duties of city clerk; voting procedure100Mayor; official head of city; powers and duties; vice-chairman102Vacancies in elective bodies103City manager; appointment; qualifications; compensation; removal104Powers, rights and duties of city manager105City officers and employees; appointments and removals106Officers and employees; regulations; penalty for violations107Interference with city manager by council forbidden; penalty108Solicitation of political contributions by employees; penalties109Regular municipal election; date110Candidates; statement and petition111Nomination papers112Ballots; form and contents113Preparing ballots, etc.; procedure114Counting of ballots; procedure116General election laws; applicability117Plan F118Operative date119Mayor; election; term120Legislative powers; election and term of city council121Vacancies122Appointments123Certificate of appointment124Removal of heads of departments125Ordinances and resolutions; approval by mayor126Regular municipal election; date; nomination papers127General election laws; applicability128City defined129Referendum; questions submitted; petition130Election results; superseding of city charter provisions; election of organization members; commencement of term131Division of city into districts; time; ordinance; district description; redistricting132Failure of timely districting133Date of municipal elections; municipal year134Residence of district members