S 3147

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 4020  FILED ON: 6/24/2026
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3147
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Bruce E. Tarr and Kristin E. Kassner
  _________________
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 to amend the town charter of Ipswich.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Bruce E. Tarr  First Essex and Middlesex
Kristin E. Kassner  2nd Essex
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  SENATE DOCKET, NO. 4020  FILED ON: 6/24/2026
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3147
By Mr. Tarr and Ms. Kassner of Hamilton, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
3147) of Bruce E. Tarr and Kristin E. Kassner (by vote of the town) for legislation to amend the
town charter of Ipswich. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act to amend the town charter of Ipswich.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. SECTION 3 of the charter of the town of Ipswich, which is on file in the
2 office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the
3 General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in place
4 thereof the following: -The select board shall appoint and may remove election, officers,
5 registrars of voters (except the Town Clerk), Trust Fund Commissioners, Town Accountant,
6 Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Town Manager. The treasurer and Collector shall be appointed
7 by the select board as provided in chapter two hundred and fifty‑one of the acts of nineteen
8 hundred and sixty‑three, which was accepted by the town of Ipswich in March nineteen hundred
9 and sixty‑four and which shall not be affected by this act in any way. The Town Accountant and
10 the Treasurer and Collector shall, in their performance of their duties, be subject to the general
11 supervision and direction of the Town Manager.
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12SECTION 2. SECTION 5 of the charter of the town of Ipswich, is hereby amended by
13 striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-In addition to
14 the select board, the registered voters of the Town shall elect a moderator, a constable, an electric
15 light commission of five members, a school committee of seven members and a housing
16 authority of five members, each to be elected in accordance with the practices in effect for the
17 election of such officials prior to the acceptance of this act. Any of said officials holding office at
18 the time of the acceptance of this act shall serve out the official's elected term.
19SECTION 3. SECTION 20 of the charter of the town of Ipswich, is hereby amended by
20 striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following: In addition to
21 the above mentioned boards, committees or officers, Town Manager may establish and appoint
22 the members of such advisory boards or committees as the town manager deems necessary. Such
23 boards or committees may include, but need not be restricted to, a water‑sewer advisory board,
24 mosquito control committee, traffic safety committee, building code committee, public safety
25 advisory committee, and personnel advisory board.
26SECTION 4. SECTION 22 of the charter of the town of Ipswich, is hereby amended by
27 striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following: - The Electric
28 Light Department in existence at the time of acceptance of this act shall continue in force and
29 effect. Said department shall be under the direct supervision of an officer to be known as the
30 Electric Light Manager, who shall be appointed by and responsible to the Electric Light
31 Commissioners.
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32Select Board shall continue to act as Electric Light Commissioners, with the advice of the
33 Electric Subcommittee, until the November 2026 state election when five commissioners will be
34 elected to terms as specified in MGL Chapter 164, Section 55.
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