H 4701

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5298  FILED ON: 10/28/2025
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4701
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Susannah M. Whipps and Joanne M. Comerford
  _________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
        Court assembled:
        The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
 An Act authorizing the town of Orange to increase the membership of the Board of Selectmen.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  DATE ADDED:
Susannah M. Whipps  2nd Franklin  10/28/2025
Joanne M. Comerford  Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester  10/28/2025
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  HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5298  FILED ON: 10/28/2025
     HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4701
    By Representative Whipps of Athol and Senator Comerford, a joint petition (accompanied by
    bill, House, No. 4701) of Susannah M. Whipps and Joanne M. Comerford (by vote of the town)
    that the town of Orange be authorized to increase the membership of the board of selectmen of
    said town. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
    An Act authorizing the town of Orange to increase the membership of the Board of Selectmen.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
    of the same, as follows:
1  SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of Chapter 41 or of any general
2   or special law to the contrary, there shall be in the Town of Orange a 5-member Board of
3   Selectmen, with each member to be elected for terms of three years so arranged so that the term
4   of at least 1 member shall expire each year. The Board of Selectmen, as the Chief Executive
5   Officer of the Town, shall have the powers and duties of a Board of Selectmen under the
6   provisions of any general or special law.
7  SECTION 2. Action taken by the Board of Selectmen and the town meeting increasing
8   the size of the Board of Selectmen shall hereby be ratified, validated, and confirmed to the same
9   extent as if the act had been in place prior thereto.
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10  SECTION 3. Members of the Board of Selectmen serving as of the effective date of this
11   Act shall continue to serve out the remainder of their unexpired terms or sooner vacating of the
12   office.
13  SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.
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