Chapter 34A

Section 1. This chapter may be cited as the ''County Charter Procedures Act''. As used in this chapter, the terms ''board of registrars of voters'', ''city council'', and ''board of selectmen'' shall include any local authority of different designation performing like duties.

Section 10. (A.) In any county in which a charter commission has been established under this chapter, the members of the advisory board on county expenditures shall have the right to participate in the deliberations of the charter commission, but without the right to vote; except…

Section 11. (A.) The charter commission shall hold public hearings, sponsor public forums and otherwise provide for the widest possible dissemination of information and the stimulation of public discussion respecting the purposes and progress of its work. (B.) The charter commiss…

Section 12. (A.) The charter study commission may report and recommend: (i) That a referendum be held to submit to the voters of the county the question of adopting one of the optional forms of the government set forth in sections seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen of this chapter…

Section 13. (A) If the charter commission shall have recommended the adoption of one of the optional forms of government authorized by this chapter, the charter commission shall notify the state secretary by the first Wednesday in August to place the following referendum question…

Section 14. (a) The charter may be revised in the same manner as provided for in its original adoption by section three. (b) A petition for the adoption or revision of a charter shall conform with the requirements of subsection (c) and shall have a sentence in substantially the f…

Section 15. (A.) Upon adoption by the registered voters of any county, except Barnstable county of any optional form of government set forth in this chapter, the county shall thereafter be governed by the plan adopted, by the provisions of this chapter applicable to all optional …

Section 16. (A.) Any county that has adopted a charter pursuant to this chapter may, in accordance with the provisions of such charter, and subject to the provisions of general law and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: (i) Organize and regulate its internal a…

Section 17. (A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this section shall be known as the ''county executive plan,'' and shall together with sections fifteen, sixteen and twenty of this chapter, govern any county whose voters have adopted it pursuant to this …

Section 18. (A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this section shall be known as the ''county manager plan,'' and shall, together with sections fifteen, sixteen and twenty of this chapter, govern any county whose voters have adopted it pursuant to this c…

Section 19. (A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this article shall be known as the ''board chairperson plan,'' and shall, together with sections fifteen, sixteen and twenty of this chapter govern any county whose voters have adopted it pursuant to this…

Section 2. Every county, except Barnstable county, shall have the power to adopt a charter or to revise an existing charter in accordance with procedures prescribed by this chapter. This chapter shall not limit any charter adoption or revision procedures allowed by prior law or t…

Section 20. Relations between the Legislative and Executive Branches. A. Separation of Powers. In any county that shall have adopted a charter under this chapter, the commissioners shall deal with county employees only through the officials responsible for the overall executive m…

Section 21. The provisions of this act shall not apply to the county of Barnstable.

Section 3. (A.) Whenever authorized by resolution of the county commissioners or by the advisory board on county expenditures, or on petition of the registered voters of any county, except in Barnstable county an election shall be held in the county upon the question, ''Shall a c…

Section 4. (A.) At the same election as the public question is submitted, fifteen members of a charter study commission shall be elected by the county's registered voters. The voting instructions shall state that the voter may vote on the question and that, regardless of how and …

Section 5. (A.) At-large candidates for the charter commission shall be registered voters of the county in which they are candidates. District candidates for the charter commission shall be registered voters of the district in which they are candidates. (B.) The signatures of thr…

Section 6. (A.) A charter commission shall consist of fifteen registered voters of such county elected by official ballot, without party or political designation, at an election held in accordance with relevant provisions of general law and this chapter. In addition, each county …

Section 7. The commission member who received the highest number of votes shall convene the first meeting of the charter commission as soon as possible but in no event later than fifteen days after certification of the results of the state election by the governor and governor's …

Section 8. It shall be the function and duty of the charter commission to study the form of government of the county, to compare it with other forms available under the laws of this state, to determine whether or not in its judgment the government of the county could be strengthe…

Section 9. (A.) A charter commission may adopt rules governing the conduct of its meetings and proceedings and may employ such legal, research, clerical or other employees, who shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one, or consultants as its account may permit.…