Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 161A, sec. 7 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 161A / Section 7
Board of directors; term; political party; quorum; powers, responsibilities and obligations; records; meetings; disclosure of financial interests; liability
Status: in_force

Section 7. (a) The authority shall be governed and its corporate powers exercised by a board of directors. The board shall consist of: the secretary, who shall serve ex officio; 1 person to be appointed by the mayor of the city of Boston; 1 person to be appointed by the advisory board who shall have municipal government experience in the service area constituting the authority and experience in transportation operations, transportation planning, housing policy, urban planning or public or private finance; provided, however, that said person shall not represent the city of Boston; and 6 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have experience in safety, 1 of whom shall have experience in transportation operations, 1 of whom shall have experience in public or private finance, 1 of whom shall be a rider as defined in section 1 and a resident of an environmental justice population as defined in section 62 of chapter 30, 1 of whom shall be a municipal official representing a city or town located in the area constituting the authority representing the service area of the 51 cities and towns or the other served communities and 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons recommended by the president of the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Not less than 2 of the appointed members shall also be members of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation established under section 2 of chapter 6C. In making selections to the board of directors, the appointing authority shall strive to ensure a board whose diversity and inclusion are reflective of the population served by the authority. (b) The term of each member, except for the secretary, shall be 4 years; provided, however, that 3 of the members appointed by the governor, not including the secretary, shall serve for terms that are coterminous with the governor. A member shall be eligible for reappointment; provided, however, that a member shall not serve more than 2 terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy in the board shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of the former member but may be appointed to serve 2 full terms thereafter. [ Subsection (c) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.] (c) Not more than 4 members shall be enrolled in the same political party. The governor shall designate 1 member to serve as chair and the board shall elect 1 member to serve as vice-chair; provided, however, that the secretary shall not serve as chair or vice-chair. [ Subsection (c) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 49 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.] (c) Not more than 5 members shall be enrolled in the same political party. The governor shall designate 1 member to serve as chair and the board shall elect 1 member to serve as vice-chair; provided, however, that the secretary shall not serve as chair or vice-chair. (d) Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a duly called meeting, if a quorum is present, shall be necessary for any action taken by the board. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the board may be taken without a meeting if all members consent in writing to such action and such written consent is filed with the records of the minutes of the board. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting. (e) The board shall be afforded all the powers, responsibilities and obligations under this chapter. The board may delegate any powers, responsibilities and obligations specifically afforded to it to the general manager unless otherwise prohibited by this section. The board shall adopt a written policy providing for the delegation of any of its powers and duties. [ Subsection (f) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.] (f) The board shall establish subcommittees, which shall include at a minimum a subcommittee on: (i) safety, health and environment; (ii) planning and workforce development; and (iii) audit and finance. Each member shall participate on 2 subcommittees of the board. Each subcommittee shall have 3 board members. The appointee of the governor who has experience in safety shall chair the subcommittee on safety, health and environment. The appointee of the governor who has experience in public or private finance shall chair the subcommittee on audit and finance. [ Subsection (f) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 50 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.] (f) The board shall establish subcommittees, which shall include at a minimum a subcommittee on: (i) safety, health and environment; (ii) planning, workforce development and compensation; and (iii) audit and finance. Each member shall participate on not more than 2 subcommittees of the board. Each subcommittee shall have not less than 3 board members. The appointee of the governor who has experience in safety shall chair the subcommittee on safety, health and environment. The appointee of the governor who has experience in public or private finance shall chair the subcommittee on audit and finance. In the case of a vacancy of either the appointee who has experience in safety or the appointee who has experience in public or private finance, the board chair shall designate a subcommittee member to serve as acting subcommittee chair until such time as the vacancy has been filled. (g) The members of the board, except for the secretary, shall serve without compensation, but each member may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses reasonably incurred by the member in the discharge of the member's official duties; provided, however, that reimbursement shall not exceed $6,000 annually per member. (h) Meetings of the board and its subcommittees shall be subject to sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A. Records of the board shall be subject to section 10 of chapter 66. [ Subsection (i) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.] (i) The board shall meet at least 1 time per month and not less than 12 times per calendar year. [ Subsection (i) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 51 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.] (i) The board shall meet as determined by the chair, but not less than 10 times per calendar year. (j) Each member shall make full disclosure of their financial interest, if any, in matters before the board by notifying the state ethics commission, in writing, and shall abstain from voting on any matter before the board in which the member has a financial interest, unless otherwise permissible under chapter 268A. Chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to the secretary in the secretary's capacity as an ex officio member. Said chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to all other members of the board, except that the board may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with or otherwise deal with any person with which any member of the board has an interest or involvement; provided, however, that: (i) such interest or involvement is disclosed in advance to the members of the board and recorded in the minutes of the board; and (ii) no member having such interest or involvement may participate in a decision of the board relating to such interest or involvement. Employment by the commonwealth or service in any agency thereof shall not be deemed to be such an interest or involvement. (k) Members shall not be liable to the commonwealth, the authority or any other person as a result of their activities related to their duties as members of the board, whether ministerial or discretionary, except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. The board may purchase liability insurance for members, officers and employees of the board and may indemnify such persons against the claims of others.

Section 7. (a) The authority shall be governed and its corporate powers exercised by a board of directors. The board shall consist of: the secretary, who shall serve ex officio; 1 person to be appointed by the mayor of the city of Boston; 1 person to be appointed by the advisory board who shall have municipal government experience in the service area constituting the authority and experience in transportation operations, transportation planning, housing policy, urban planning or public or private finance; provided, however, that said person shall not represent the city of Boston; and 6 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have experience in safety, 1 of whom shall have experience in transportation operations, 1 of whom shall have experience in public or private finance, 1 of whom shall be a rider as defined in section 1 and a resident of an environmental justice population as defined in section 62 of chapter 30, 1 of whom shall be a municipal official representing a city or town located in the area constituting the authority representing the service area of the 51 cities and towns or the other served communities and 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons recommended by the president of the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Not less than 2 of the appointed members shall also be members of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation established under section 2 of chapter 6C.

In making selections to the board of directors, the appointing authority shall strive to ensure a board whose diversity and inclusion are reflective of the population served by the authority.

(b) The term of each member, except for the secretary, shall be 4 years; provided, however, that 3 of the members appointed by the governor, not including the secretary, shall serve for terms that are coterminous with the governor. A member shall be eligible for reappointment; provided, however, that a member shall not serve more than 2 terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy in the board shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of the former member but may be appointed to serve 2 full terms thereafter.

[ Subsection (c) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.]

(c) Not more than 4 members shall be enrolled in the same political party. The governor shall designate 1 member to serve as chair and the board shall elect 1 member to serve as vice-chair; provided, however, that the secretary shall not serve as chair or vice-chair.

[ Subsection (c) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 49 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.]

(c) Not more than 5 members shall be enrolled in the same political party. The governor shall designate 1 member to serve as chair and the board shall elect 1 member to serve as vice-chair; provided, however, that the secretary shall not serve as chair or vice-chair.

(d) Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a duly called meeting, if a quorum is present, shall be necessary for any action taken by the board. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the board may be taken without a meeting if all members consent in writing to such action and such written consent is filed with the records of the minutes of the board. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting.

(e) The board shall be afforded all the powers, responsibilities and obligations under this chapter. The board may delegate any powers, responsibilities and obligations specifically afforded to it to the general manager unless otherwise prohibited by this section. The board shall adopt a written policy providing for the delegation of any of its powers and duties.

[ Subsection (f) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.]

(f) The board shall establish subcommittees, which shall include at a minimum a subcommittee on: (i) safety, health and environment; (ii) planning and workforce development; and (iii) audit and finance. Each member shall participate on 2 subcommittees of the board. Each subcommittee shall have 3 board members. The appointee of the governor who has experience in safety shall chair the subcommittee on safety, health and environment. The appointee of the governor who has experience in public or private finance shall chair the subcommittee on audit and finance.

[ Subsection (f) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 50 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.]

(f) The board shall establish subcommittees, which shall include at a minimum a subcommittee on: (i) safety, health and environment; (ii) planning, workforce development and compensation; and (iii) audit and finance. Each member shall participate on not more than 2 subcommittees of the board. Each subcommittee shall have not less than 3 board members. The appointee of the governor who has experience in safety shall chair the subcommittee on safety, health and environment. The appointee of the governor who has experience in public or private finance shall chair the subcommittee on audit and finance. In the case of a vacancy of either the appointee who has experience in safety or the appointee who has experience in public or private finance, the board chair shall designate a subcommittee member to serve as acting subcommittee chair until such time as the vacancy has been filled.

(g) The members of the board, except for the secretary, shall serve without compensation, but each member may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses reasonably incurred by the member in the discharge of the member's official duties; provided, however, that reimbursement shall not exceed $6,000 annually per member.

(h) Meetings of the board and its subcommittees shall be subject to sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A. Records of the board shall be subject to section 10 of chapter 66.

[ Subsection (i) effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.]

(i) The board shall meet at least 1 time per month and not less than 12 times per calendar year.

[ Subsection (i) as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 51 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.]

(i) The board shall meet as determined by the chair, but not less than 10 times per calendar year.

(j) Each member shall make full disclosure of their financial interest, if any, in matters before the board by notifying the state ethics commission, in writing, and shall abstain from voting on any matter before the board in which the member has a financial interest, unless otherwise permissible under chapter 268A. Chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to the secretary in the secretary's capacity as an ex officio member. Said chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to all other members of the board, except that the board may purchase from, sell to, borrow from, loan to, contract with or otherwise deal with any person with which any member of the board has an interest or involvement; provided, however, that: (i) such interest or involvement is disclosed in advance to the members of the board and recorded in the minutes of the board; and (ii) no member having such interest or involvement may participate in a decision of the board relating to such interest or involvement. Employment by the commonwealth or service in any agency thereof shall not be deemed to be such an interest or involvement.

(k) Members shall not be liable to the commonwealth, the authority or any other person as a result of their activities related to their duties as members of the board, whether ministerial or discretionary, except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. The board may purchase liability insurance for members, officers and employees of the board and may indemnify such persons against the claims of others.