reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 121b § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 6 - Housing and Redevelopment Authorities; Charges Against Members; Hearing; Removal; Resignation; Suspension

Section 6. The mayor or city council or board of selectmen may make or receive written charges against, and the mayor with the approval of the city council, or the board of selectmen, as the case may be, may accept the resignation of, any member of a housing authority or redevelopment authority appointed or elected by such city or town or may, after hearing, remove any such member because of inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office provided that such member shall have been given, not less than fourteen days before the date set for such hearing, a copy in writing of the charges against him and written notice of the date and place of hearing to be held thereon, and at the hearing shall have been given the opportunity to be represented by counsel and to be heard in his defense. The mayor and city council or board of selectmen may also make or receive written charges against any member of a housing or redevelopment authority in such city or town appointed by the department and refer the same to the department which may proceed in the same manner as the mayor and city council or board of selectmen under the preceding sentence. Pending final action upon any such charges, the officer or officers having the power to remove such member may temporarily suspend him, provided that they shall immediately reinstate him in office if they find such charges have not been substantiated, and may appoint a person to perform the duties of such suspended member until he is reinstated or until he is removed and his successor is qualified. In case of any such removal the removing authority shall forthwith deliver to the clerk of the city or town attested copies of such charges and of its findings thereon, and the clerk shall cause the same to be filed with the certificate and duplicate certificate required to be filed with the department and the state secretary under section five.  A member of a housing or redevelopment authority who ceases to be a resident of the city or town shall be removed upon the date of his change of residence by operation of law. A member of a housing authority appointed as a tenant, in accordance with the provisions of section five, who ceases to be a tenant in a building owned and operated by or on behalf of the local housing authority shall be removed upon the date of such change by operation of law. A member of a housing authority who is a tenant in a housing project shall not participate in any decision relating to the project affecting his personal interest.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 7a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 7a - Guidelines for Contracts to Be Executed by Housing Authority and Executive Director

Section 7A. The department shall promulgate guidelines for contracts to be executed by the housing authority and an executive director. The department may review all contracts between the housing authorities and executive directors and all terms for payments or monetary remuneration relevant to state payments; provided, however, that the department shall review all contracts and all terms for payments or monetary remuneration worth more than $100,000 per annum. The department may strike contract provisions that do not conform to the guidelines.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 8 - Operating Agencies; Housing Authorities

Section 8. The operating agencies having the powers and subject to the limitations provided in sections twenty-five to thirty-three, inclusive, shall be housing authorities.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 9 - Urban Renewal Agencies

Section 9. The operating agencies having the powers and subject to the limitations provided in sections forty-five to fifty-seven, inclusive, to be known as urban renewal agencies, shall be:—  (a) each redevelopment authority;  (b) each housing authority of a city or town in which no redevelopment authority has been organized; provided, however, that no housing authority shall initiate an urban renewal project until the municipal officers of a city or an annual or special town meeting shall have determined that there exists in such city or town a need for urban renewal;  (c) each housing authority of a city or town in which a redevelopment authority has been organized, but only with respect to projects initiated by such authority before the organization of a redevelopment authority and subject to section fifty-one.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 10 - Operating Agencies; Designation of Authorities

Section 10. Unless otherwise particularly provided in sections fifty-eight and fifty-nine the operating agencies having the powers and subject to the limitations provided in sections fifty-eight and fifty-nine of this chapter shall be either housing authorities or urban renewal agencies, whichever may be designated for the purposes of the particular program by the municipal officers.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 12 - Operating Agencies; Wages; Labor Requirements; Social Security

Section 12. Each contractor with an operating agency and each subcontractor shall comply with the applicable requirements of chapter one hundred and forty-nine as to wages and hours of labor and any other conditions relating to employment. The attorney general shall enforce this paragraph and shall also have power to petition the court for injunction or other appropriate relief against any operating agency which fails to comply herewith.  An operating agency shall enter into a compact or compacts with the Social Security Board or take such other action as it may deem appropriate to enable its employees to come within the provisions and obtain the benefits of the Social Security Act. If the employees of such an agency shall come within the provisions of the Social Security Act, their employment shall be included in the term ''employment'' as used in sections one to seven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and fifty-one A.  Except as provided in section twenty-nine of this chapter, the provisions of chapter thirty-one and the rules made thereunder shall not apply to any officer, agent or employee of an operating agency or to any person employed on or in connection with any project of an operating agency.  Except as provided in sections twenty-eight and thirty all by-laws, ordinances and regulations of the city or town in which any such project lies relating to the construction of buildings, municipal planning, zoning and the protection of public health shall apply to every project of an operating agency located in such city or town.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 13 - Operating Agencies; Contract and Tort Liability; Member's Personal Liability; Relocation of Utility Facilities

Section 13. An operating agency shall be liable in contract or in tort in the same manner as a private corporation. The members, employees, officers and agents of an operating agency shall not be liable as such on its contracts or for torts not committed or directly authorized by them nor shall said members be liable for any negligent or wrongful act or omission for which the operating agency would be liable under applicable rules of law, in which event any action either civil or criminal against the operating agency shall be the exclusive remedy for any injured party. The property or funds of an operating agency shall not be subject to attachment or to levy and sale on execution, but if such agency refuses to pay a judgment entered against it in any court of competent jurisdiction, the superior court, sitting within and for the county in which the agency is situated, may, by writ of mandamus, direct the treasurer of such agency to pay such judgment. The real estate of such an agency shall not be subject to liens under chapter two hundred and fifty-four, but the provisions of sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine of chapter one hundred and forty-nine shall be applicable to any construction work by such agencies.  An operating agency shall reimburse the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and every railroad corporation for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the said transportation authority or such railroad corporation to relocate such of their respective facilities as are required to be removed as part of a project being undertaken pursuant to this chapter by such operating agency and as are necessary for the continuance of the common carrier services performed by said transportation authority or such railroad corporation. ''Facilities'', as used in this paragraph, shall mean poles, tracks, switches, wires, conduits, cables, signals and structures and in addition thereto equipment appurtenant to any of the foregoing.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 14 - Operating Agencies; Federal Loans; Conveyance Upon Default

Section 14. An operating agency may obligate itself, in any contract with the federal government for a loan or the payment of annual contributions authorized by section eleven, to convey to the federal government the project to which such contract relates, upon the occurrence of a substantial default with respect to the covenants, terms and conditions of such contract to which such agency is subject. Such contract may further provide that, in case of such conveyance, the federal government may complete, operate, manage, lease, convey or otherwise deal with the project in accordance with the terms of such contract; provided, that the contract shall require that, as soon as practicable, after the federal government is satisfied that all of the defaults on account of which it acquired the project have been remedied, and that the project will thereafter be operated in compliance with the terms of the contract, the federal government shall reconvey to such agency or its successor the project in the condition in which it then exists. The obligation of an operating agency under such contract shall be subject to specific enforcement by any court having jurisdiction, and, notwithstanding any other provision of the law, shall not be deemed to constitute a mortgage.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 15 - Operating Agencies; Bonds, Notes, Certificates; Negotiable Instruments

Section 15. The bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness of an operating agency, in the absence of an express recital to the contrary on the face thereof, shall constitute negotiable instruments for all purposes. They may be payable from the income of the agency or constitute a general obligation thereof, may be sold at not less than par, at public or private sale, may mature at such time or times, may be secured in such manner, may provide for such rights and remedies upon their default, may contain such other covenants, terms and conditions not inconsistent with law, may be executed by such officers, and may be issued with or without the corporate seal, all as may be authorized either by vote of the agency or by the officer or officers to whom the power to determine any or all the matters set forth in this sentence may be expressly delegated by vote of such agency. The engraved or printed facsimile of the seal of an agency on its bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness shall have the same validity and effect as if such seal were impressed thereon. Whenever a bond, note or certificate of indebtedness is required to bear the signatures of two or more officers, it shall be sufficient if the signature of any one of such officers upon such instrument is a written signature and the remaining signature or signatures are engraved, printed or stamped facsimile signatures; provided, that each officer whose facsimile signature appears on such instrument has, by a writing bearing his written signature and filed in the office of the secretary of the agency, authorized the officer whose written signature appears on such instrument to cause such facsimile to be placed thereon. The facsimile signature of any officer so engraved, printed or stamped thereon shall have the same validity and effect as his written signature. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile thereof appears on any notes, bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such notes or bonds, such signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if he had remained in office until such delivery.  The bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness of an operating agency issued under this chapter and the interest thereon shall be exempt from taxation, with respect to principal and income. The bonds of such an agency issued under this chapter shall be legal investments for the deposits and the income derived therefrom of savings banks, for the trust funds of trust companies, for the capital and other funds of insurance companies, and for funds over which the commonwealth has exclusive control.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 17 - Liability of Commonwealth or Political Subdivisions for Debts of Housing Authority

Section 17. No bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness executed or obligation or liability incurred by an operating agency shall be a debt or charge against the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof other than such agency. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to obligate the commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof other than the applicable operating agency, or to pledge its credit, to any payment whatsoever to any operating agency or to any creditor or bondholder thereof, nor shall anything therein contained be construed as granting to any operating agency any exemption from taxation except as expressly provided therein or to render the commonwealth, or any political subdivision other than such agency liable for any indebtedness or liability incurred, acts done, or any omissions or failures to act, of any such agency.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 18 - Preparation of Master Plans, Etc. by City or Town; Appropriation and Payment

Section 18. Whether or not an operating agency has been created therein any city or town may undertake, itself or by or through any department, board, agency, authority, or office of the city or town, or by or through any operating agency, planning district, metropolitan district, or other public body any planning activities within such city or town for the preparation or completion of master or general plans, a workable program for development of the community, general neighborhood renewal plans, a community renewal project, any other planning study, project or program and a code enforcement project, including the voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements, the enforcement of laws, codes and regulations relating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and improvements, and the provision and repair of streets, curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, tree planting and similar improvements in connection therewith and may authorize such department, board, agency, authority, office, operating agency, district or public body to act as the agent of such city or town in entering contracts for financial assistance for such purposes from the federal government or the commonwealth. Any such city or town may raise and appropriate or agree with such department, board, agency, authority, office, district, operating agency or public body or with the federal government or the commonwealth to raise and appropriate such sums as may be necessary for the purpose.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 19 - Initial Costs and Annual Operating Expenses of Operating Agencies; Appropriations and Payment by City

Section 19. Cities and towns may raise and appropriate money for the purpose of defraying the initial costs and annual administrative expenses of an operating agency authorized to be organized therein, including the expense of preparing any plans, studies, programs and surveys an operating agency is authorized to prepare and the expense of preparing plans in connection with one or more proposed projects.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any city or town may from time to time appropriate or agree to appropriate money for the purpose of aiding in the preparation of plans and estimates needed to prepare applications for federal loans or grants and in the preparation of any other estimates, plans, orders of taking and contract documents in connection with any proposed or approved project. All moneys appropriated by a city or town under the preceding sentence shall be repaid by the operating agency to such city or town if said agency subsequently receives other moneys available for the purposes for which such moneys were appropriated, but otherwise such moneys need not be repaid.  All moneys appropriated under this section in aid of an operating agency or received by it from any source shall be paid to the treasurer of the agency or such other officer of the agency as may be authorized by it, and shall be disbursed by such treasurer or other officer, subject to accounting therefor as required by this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 20 - Development, Acquisition and Operating Costs; Relocation Payments; Losses; Appropriation and Payment by City

Section 20. A city or town in which an operating agency has been organized may raise and appropriate, or may borrow, or may agree with such agency or with the federal government or the commonwealth to raise and appropriate or to borrow, in aid of such agency, such sums as may be necessary for:—  (1) defraying all the development, acquisition and operating costs of a clearance, urban renewal, community renewal, relocation, rehabilitation or low-rent housing project within such city or town; or  (2) defraying such part of the development, acquisition and operating costs of any such project to which either the federal government, pursuant to federal legislation, or any other source has rendered or has agreed to render financial assistance, as will not be met by loans other than temporary loans or by contributions or grants other than annual or other contributions and grants in the nature of reimbursement from the federal government or from any such other source; and for  (3) the making of relocation payments by such agency; and  (4) repaying any loss which the city or town has agreed to bear and which is incurred as a result of the early taking, acquisition or clearance of land not used for urban renewal purposes.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 21 - Indebtedness Limitation

Section 21. Indebtedness authorized under section twenty shall be outside the limit of indebtedness prescribed in section ten of chapter forty-four, and shall be payable within twenty years and otherwise subject to sections sixteen to twenty-seven, inclusive, of said chapter forty-four, except that in the case of indebtedness authorized under clause (1) or clause (2) of section twenty, the first principal payment may be made within five years and the last within twenty-five years of the date of the bonds or notes issued for the Serial Loan. The total amount of indebtedness of any city or town outstanding at any one time under clause (3) of section twenty alone shall not exceed one half of one per cent, and under clauses (1), (2) and (4) combined of said section twenty shall not in any city with a population over one hundred and fifty thousand exceed seven per cent of its equalized valuation and in any other city exceed six per cent of its equalized valuation.
MA Gen L ch 121b § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 121b - Housing and Urban Renewal|Section 24 - Agreement to Bear Acquisition Loss

Section 24. A city or town, in which the operating agency, pursuant to section forty-seven, proposes to take, acquire or clear land constituting the whole or part or parts of an area which the agency has determined to be a substandard, decadent or blighted open area and for which such agency is preparing an urban renewal plan, may enter into an agreement with the operating agency to bear any loss that may arise as a result of such taking, acquisition or clearance in the event that such land is not used for urban renewal purposes; provided, however, that no city or town shall enter into any agreement under this paragraph which would cause the losses agreed to be borne by such city or town under all agreements under this paragraph in effect at any one time, according to the estimates of costs upon which such agreement or agreements are originally based, to exceed four per cent of its equalized valuation.