An Act relative to the charter and the town clerk in the town of Falmouth
Sponsored By: Thomas P. Walsh (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Falmouth voters now elect only Moderator
Under the charter, the only town officer voters elect is the Moderator. Other town offices are no longer filled by townwide election and are filled by appointment or other non‑elective methods.
Falmouth Town Clerk now appointed with set pay
The law ends the elected Town Clerk and makes it an appointed job. The Town Manager appoints the clerk, with Select Board approval, using the charter’s normal process. The job has a set salary and fringe benefits on the town’s full‑time non‑union technical and administrative pay table. The clerk keeps official records, records vital statistics, issues licenses, and serves as Clerk of the Board of Registrars. On the law’s effective date, the current elected clerk becomes the first appointed clerk and serves the rest of the elected term unless they resign, retire, or are removed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas P. Walsh
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
David T. Vieira
Republican • House
Dylan A. Fernandes
Democratic • Senate
Thomas W. Moakley
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 106 of the Acts of 2026
6/22/2026Enacted and laid before the Governor
6/15/2026SenateEnacted
6/15/2026HouseRead second, ordered to a third reading, read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed
6/11/2026SenateTaken out of the Orders of the Day
6/11/2026SenateRead; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
5/7/2026SenatePassed to be engrossed
5/4/2026HouseSubstituted for H5107
5/4/2026House
Bill Text
Chapter 106 of the Acts of 2026
6/22/2026
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