MassachusettsH 4542194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act relative to making the charter of the city of Chicopee gender neutral

Sponsored By: Thomas P. Walsh (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

18 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 8 mixed.

New rules and costs for property owners

If the city builds a sidewalk next to your land, you pay 50% of the cost, split among adjacent owners. Inside city fire limits, building size, location, and materials must meet city rules that follow state law. The city can lay out, alter, or close streets and assess damages; affected owners can appeal under law.

City council meetings and oversight

Council meetings are public and a journal is open to view. The council elects a president, who can be removed by a two‑thirds vote. Special meetings need at least 24 hours’ notice and usually stick to listed topics. The City Clerk keeps council records and enters ordinances in a public book. When asked, boards and department heads must appear and share information with the council. The chair of Public Welfare and a school member may sit (nonvoting) with the council for related talks.

Health, welfare, and library staffing

The Board of Health appoints an Agent each year who is not a board member. Public Library Trustees serve without pay and appoint librarians who are not trustees. The Board of Public Welfare appoints a City Physician and a Welfare Agent each year. Appointees may be removed for cause, and the council sets pay where stated. These rules support steady staffing for public health, welfare, and library services.

Mayor picks police and fire leaders

The city may set up Police and Fire Departments by ordinance. The mayor appoints the chief and all officers, and can remove them under set rules. The council sets pay and rules by ordinance. The police chief must post a bond if the council requires it. This makes leadership and accountability for public safety clear.

Public works and city property control

The Superintendent of Streets handles street and road duties under state‑law powers. Water Commissioners appoint a Water Superintendent each year for a one‑year term starting the first Monday in March. Cemetery Commissioners run city cemeteries and may appoint a Superintendent. A board of City Property Commissioners (the mayor, council president, and city engineer) manages city property not assigned elsewhere and keeps it in repair.

Special state acts still apply

Powers and duties given to Chicopee by special state acts stay in force unless this charter clearly changes them. This keeps existing rights and obligations in place.

Stronger budget rules and timelines

Departments must send itemized budget estimates by the first Monday in January. The mayor, council president, and treasurer send recommendations to the council by March 1. The council sets the city budget in March, and the city cannot spend money without an appropriation. Any spending item over $200 needs a majority of all councilors, two readings at least two days apart, and a roll‑call vote. After June 30 and before new appropriations, the city may incur liabilities up to one‑fourth of the prior year’s appropriation. The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. By November 15, the council publishes a full report of appropriations, receipts, spending, and debt. The City Collector collects all taxes and money due to the city.

No self-dealing in city contracts

The Mayor, officers, and board members who can spend city money cannot make contracts with themselves or fellow members. The Council can allow an exception only by vote with the Mayor’s approval. Deals made against this rule are void, except the city may pay necessary small expenses.

New school committee makeup and terms

The School Committee includes the Mayor as chair, two at‑large members, and one member from each ward. At‑large members serve four‑year terms, with one elected every two years. Ward members serve two‑year terms.

School leadership and budgets

The School Committee appoints a Superintendent each year and sets the salary. The Superintendent cannot be a committee member and may be removed for cause. By the first Monday in January, the Committee sends a detailed school budget estimate to the mayor. The Committee also handles repairs to school buildings and buys furniture, supplies, and heating and ventilation equipment.

City offices require citizenship and residency

Most city offices require U.S. citizenship and at least two years of Chicopee residency. The Superintendent of Schools, City Solicitor, and City Engineer do not have to meet the two‑year residency rule.

Stricter rules for city contracts

Departments can hire, remove staff, and make needed contracts for work and supplies. The mayor must issue a written order before any permanent improvement starts. Contracts of $200 or more must be in writing and approved by the mayor. Contracts of $1,000 or more must include a bond or other security the mayor accepts, held by the treasurer until the job is done. Contract changes must be in writing and approved by the mayor.

City Council roles and limits

Each January, the Council elects a City Auditor, Collector, and Messenger for one‑year terms starting the first Monday in February. It also elects one Assessor, one Board of Health member, and one library trustee for three‑year terms; one health board member must be a doctor. If a council seat opens more than six months before year‑end, the Council may fill it until the next election; it also fills Clerk or Treasurer vacancies until the next municipal year. Councilors cannot hold other city offices during their term or be appointed to new council‑created posts that year and the next. The Council cannot run day‑to‑day city business or spend money, except small incidental Council costs.

Hiring, removal, and pay rules for officers

The mayor appoints many city officers on a set January schedule. Appointees must accept in writing and take an oath within 7 days. If the mayor or a board removes an officer, the reason must be filed with the Clerk and served on the officer; the seat then becomes vacant. Offices become vacant if the person stops living in Chicopee (with listed exceptions) or is convicted of a crime punishable by jail. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original choice. Civil service rules stay in force and must be funded. Any change to an officer’s salary takes effect the next municipal year.

How Chicopee votes and is represented

Chicopee has nine wards, and never fewer than seven. City elections are on the first Tuesday in November. The municipal year starts at 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday in January, when officials are sworn in. Voters elect the mayor, clerk, treasurer, council, and school committee by ballot. The council has ten at‑large seats and nine ward seats. You may mark no more than three at‑large candidates on one ballot. Fifty qualified voters can force a general public meeting by written request.

Mayor’s powers and veto checks

The mayor holds the city’s executive power and may act directly or through city officers. Most council measures go to the mayor for approval. The mayor can veto or strike specific spending items, but the council can override by a two‑thirds vote. If the mayor takes no action in 10 days, the measure takes effect.

Old charter repealed, rights kept

The law repeals Chicopee’s 1897 charter and any acts that conflict with the new charter. It keeps acts already done, rights already earned, pending cases, and current officeholders’ terms. By‑laws and ordinances that do not conflict stay in force until the Council repeals them.

Rules for mayor powers and vacancies

The Mayor appoints most city officers and can remove them for cause after a hearing. If the Mayor is disabled, the Council President, or if absent the Treasurer, serves as acting Mayor. The acting Mayor cannot appoint or remove officers unless the disability lasts 30 days and the Council allows it. After 60 straight days, the Council may declare the office vacant. If the seat opens in year one, a special election is held; in year two, the Council President serves until the first Monday in January.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Thomas P. Walsh
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Jacob R. Oliveira
Democratic • Senate
Shirley B. Arriaga
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 56 of the Acts of 2026
4/10/2026
Enacted and laid before the Governor
4/2/2026Senate
Enacted
4/2/2026House
Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed
3/30/2026Senate
Taken out of the Orders of the Day
3/30/2026Senate
Read, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third reading
9/22/2025Senate
Passed to be engrossed
9/18/2025House
Substituted for H2244
9/18/2025House

Bill Text

Chapter 56 of the Acts of 2026
4/10/2026
PDF

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