Towns
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History
Pilgrims
The first of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns was created in 1620 when the Pilgrims established a colony in Plymouth. This colony was set up according to the Mayflower Compact; a democratic document "binding people to conform to the will of the majority". Forty-one male passengers of the Mayflower signed this agreement prior to their landing in Plymouth. This document was adapted from the typical church covenant and was created with the intent of establishing a political system binding the signers to not only remain with the group but also to abide by all laws and regulations that would be later created.[1] The settlement prospered and in 1621 the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated the first Thanksgiving. Later, early settlers established fishing and trading stations in Weymouth (known then as Wessagusset) Quincy and Cape Ann.[2]
Prior to 1936 there existed four additional towns. These towns were known as Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. At this time Boston was looking for water sources that would travel to the city using gravity and not require filtration. The Quabbin Reservoir was created to serve this purpose however; it could not be completed with the taking of these four towns and the Swift River. Construction of the Quabbin began in 1936, filling of the reservoir started three years later and it was completed 1946. [3]
Originally Massachusetts towns had no regularly elected officials and would periodically choose prominent citizens to carry out the business of the town. Eventually town services and functions grew thereby requiring more constant management. At that time Commonwealth citizens examined their English heritage to develop a new form of government in which 3-9 selectmen, or townsmen, would be elected to carry out these responsibilities for a fixed term. By 1633 Dorchester became the first town to adopt this form of government. [4]
Responsibilities for these governing boards originally differed from town to town as their primary role was to carry out the decisions of town meeting and various administrative functions at the discretion of the town. In the late 17th century the Massachusetts General Court began shaping the role of the selectmen by passing laws defining their position's responsibilities and authority. These new laws gave the Board of Selectmen authority over town finances, care of the poor, schools, admission of new residents, public works (specifically roads), land regulation, local defense, and appointment of other town officials not elected by Town Meeting. In the beginning the board was also almost solely responsible for creating the content of the warrant articles however; in 1715 the Massachusetts General Court passed a law allowing ten or more property owners to petition the board to accept proposed articles. Massachusetts' towns grew throughout the colonial period requiring the board to take on more responsibility and authority. At the same time new elected officers and boards were created to independently carry out other specialized functions.[5]
Organization of Town Government
There are currently two dominant structures organizing town governments; Board of Selectmen/Open Town Meeting and Board of Selectmen/Representative Town Meeting. These structures vest policy-making responsibilities in the board of selectmen and legislative functions are carried out by one of two types of Town Meeting. Both organizational structures may include a Professional Manager position. The level of power vested in this position ranges from assistant to the board to more independent functions.
Finance Committees, also known as Advisory Committees or Warrant Committees, primarily review and make recommendations to the town regarding the annual budget and similar financial issues.
See also Form of government for further detail of each structure.
Legal basis of Towns
Both towns and cities operate within several legal frameworks. These include Home Rule Charter, Special Act Charter and General Law Organization or bylaws.
Fifty-four towns operate under a home rule charter.[6] These are adopted by local voters, pursuant to the Home Rule Amendment and have generally provided in one document, the basic description of the local government, or its constitution.
__ operate under a special act charter. These are adopted by the State Legislature at the request of the town. These may be as comprehensive as a home rule charter but many do not contain the same level of detail.
General Law Organization
Most towns operate under a grouping of general laws, acceptance statutes, bylaws and special acts. If a charter was created for the town all pieces of these general laws would make up the charter.
A bylaw is passed by either a governing board or by Town Meeting. These municipal entities get power to pass laws through a charter or a law of the state (via Home Rule) which specifies what things the city may regulate through bylaws. Bylaws are passed by the governing board (Board of Selectmen) or Town Meeting.
Notes
- ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica. "Mayflower Compact". Retrieved 2008 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/370977/Mayflower-Compact
- ↑ Secretary of State: Citizen Information Service. "Massachusetts: Part Two: Historical Sketch" Retrieved 2008 from http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf2.htm
- ↑ Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. "Quabbin Reservoir and Ware River" Retrieved 2008 from http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/04water/html/hist5.htm
- ↑ Morse, Mark. (1998)Handbook for Massachusetts Selectmen 3rd edition (Massachusetts Municipal Association) Boston, MA
- ↑ Morse, Mark. (1998)Handbook for Massachusetts Selectmen 3rd edition (Massachusetts Municipal Association) Boston, MA
- ↑ Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA). (2008). Forms of Municipal Government. Massachusetts Municipal Directory. 2008-2009 edition
