reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 164 § 42 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 42 - Purchase of Existing Plant

Section 42. If, when a town votes to establish a municipal lighting plant, any person or municipality was, at the time of the first vote required by section thirty-five or thirty-six, engaged in generating or distributing gas or electricity for sale for lighting purposes in such town, the town may purchase of him or it, at such price and on such terms as may be agreed upon, such portion of his or its plant and property within the limits of such town as such town desires for its use and as can be agreed upon, provided, however, that no such purchase shall be consummated by a city unless approved by vote of its city council, or of its commissioners if the city government consists of a commission, or by a town unless ratified by the voters at a town meeting.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 45 - Purchase of Property in Adjoining Town

Section 45. If a town purchases a gas or electric lighting plant having mains, poles, wires or other distributing apparatus in an adjoining town where there is no private gas or electric lighting company, it may also purchase such mains, poles, wires or other distributing apparatus therein, subject to sections forty-two and forty-three.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 46 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 46 - Distribution to Adjoining Town

Section 46. A town which has acquired, as hereinbefore provided, mains, poles, wires or other distributing apparatus in an adjoining town may thereafter manufacture, sell and distribute gas or electricity to said adjoining town or to its inhabitants, and shall thereafter have therein the same rights and franchises and be subject to the same limitations and obligations as the vendor from whom such outlying plant was purchased would have had or to which he would have been subject had such purchase not been made.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 47 - Extension of Services to Adjoining Town

Section 47. The department may, after notice and a public hearing, authorize a town which has acquired a municipal lighting plant to extend its mains or lines into an adjoining town in order to distribute and sell gas or electricity therein, if such town or a private corporation therein is not then supplying such town with gas or electricity, as the case may be. Such authorization shall be upon such terms and with such limitations and restrictions as the department deems for the public interest. A town so authorized shall thereafter have in such adjoining town the same rights and privileges, and be subject to the same limitations and obligations, as it has within its own territorial limits.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 47b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 47b - Facilities and Equipment Located Outside Municipal Limits

Section 47B. Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board may construct, purchase, operate, own, lease, rent, maintain, dispose of, share costs of, or otherwise have the right to the use, or portions thereof, of subtransmission, transmission, distribution, and generation facilities and equipment located outside of the municipality's limits. All such subtransmission, transmission, distribution, and generation facilities and equipment, or portions thereof, referred to in this section so constructed, purchased, owned, leased, rented, operated, maintained, or otherwise having the right to be used by any municipality shall hereafter be considered ''plant'' under the provisions of sections 34, 40, and 57 of this chapter. Any municipality acting by and through its municipal light board is hereby authorized to pay for the construction, purchase, lease, rent, or the right to use, or portions thereof, of the subtransmission, transmission, distribution, and generation facilities and equipment referred to in this section from those amounts accumulated for depreciation.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 47d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 47d - Exemption From Public Records and Open Meeting Requirements in Certain Instances

Section 47D. A municipal lighting plant created pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any special law shall be exempt from the public record requirements of section 10 of chapter 66 and the open meeting requirements of sections 20 and 21 of chapter 30A in those instances when necessary for protecting trade secrets, confidential, competitively sensitive or other proprietary information provided in the course of proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter when such municipal lighting plant board determines that such disclosure will adversely affect its ability to conduct business in relation to other entities making, selling, or distributing electric power and energy pursuant to this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 47e (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 47e - Facilities for Operation of Telecommunications Systems for Municipal Use; Construction, Purchase, Lease and Maintenance; Debt

Section 47E. A municipal lighting plant or a cooperative public corporation and any municipal lighting plant member thereof, established pursuant to this chapter or any general or special law may construct, purchase or lease, and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the distribution or the operation of a telecommunications system for municipal use or for the use of its customers. Such municipal lighting plant may incur debt for such facilities by a vote taken in the manner prescribed pursuant to section 8 of chapter 44. Such cooperative may incur debt for such facilities pursuant to the provisions of section 47C. Such facilities may include suitable land, structure, machinery, other apparatus and appliances for operating a telecommunications system. Such cooperative or municipal lighting plant, which is engaged in the business of operating a telecommunications system, may, as a part of such business, if an appropriation is made therefor, rent, lease, or sell for cash or credit at prevailing retail prices, install and service, within the territory served by such business, merchandise, equipment, utensils and chattels of any description which are incidental or auxiliary to the operation of said telecommunications system or the use of its customers or are necessary or expedient in the protection or management of its property used in such business. Wherever apt, the provisions of this chapter and chapter 44, which apply to the operation and maintenance of a municipal lighting plant, shall apply also to the operation and maintenance of such telecommunications system.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 51 - Purchase of Gas, Electricity, Equipment, Supplies or Materials From Another Town

Section 51. A town which has acquired a plant for the manufacture or distribution of gas may purchase gas from another town authorized to sell the same or from any corporation selling gas; and a town which has acquired a plant for the manufacture or distribution of electricity may purchase electricity from another town authorized to sell the same or from any corporation selling electricity and may contract for the purchase, sale or maintenance of equipment, supplies or materials used in the ordinary course of business with any other town or towns having acquired such a plant or with any corporation selling electricity, except as provided in section fifty-two.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 52 - Purchase of Electricity by Town From Street Railway

Section 52. A town in which no person or corporation is engaged in generating or distributing electricity for sale and which has voted or shall vote to construct one or more plants for the manufacture or distribution of electricity for municipal use or for the use of its inhabitants, or for both purposes, may make contracts, for terms not exceeding ten years, with any street railway company operating a street railway in such town, for the purchase of electricity from such company in order to furnish electricity for municipal use or for the use of its inhabitants, or both; and street railway companies may make contracts to furnish electricity as aforesaid to a town, but the contracts shall not become operative unless the department shall, after a public hearing, approve the terms thereof as consistent with the public interest. This and the three following sections shall not apply to cities.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 53 - Delivery by Street Railway; Metering

Section 53. Electricity supplied by a street railway company to a town shall be delivered to the distributing system of said town at some specified place or places therein, and the meter or meters by which such electricity is measured shall be a part of the distributing system.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 54 - Disagreement as to Price Paid to Street Railway; Action of Department

Section 54. If a town voting to purchase electricity from a street railway company is unable to agree with such company at the expiration of a contract, made in accordance with section fifty-two, upon the price to be paid for electricity by, or upon the manner in which electricity is to be furnished to, said town in the future, its selectmen may apply to the department to fix the price which it shall pay for said electricity to, and the manner in which electricity shall be furnished by, said company; and thereupon the department shall set a date for a public hearing upon such application, giving said company reasonable notice thereof; and after the hearing the department shall, if it deems the furnishing of such electricity consistent with the interest of public travel upon the railway of such company, fix the price which said town shall pay for electricity to, and the manner in which electricity shall be furnished by, said company; and said company shall thereupon furnish to said town electricity at the price and in the manner fixed by the department.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 55 - Municipal Light Board

Section 55. A town which has established or votes to establish a gas or electric plant may elect a municipal light board consisting of either three or five citizens of the town, each for a term of three years. Of the three-member board, initially one shall be chosen for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and at each annual meeting thereafter one for a term of three years. Of the five-member board, initially one shall be chosen for one year, two for two years and two for three years and thereafter, the terms shall be for three years. The municipal light board shall have authority to construct, purchase or lease a gas or electric plant in accordance with the vote of the town and to maintain and operate the same.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 55a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 55a - Agreements Between Municipal Light Boards and Cities or Towns

Section 55A. A municipal light board may enter into an agreement with the city or town where it operates to provide billing, administrative, operational or other support services to assist the city or town with the operation of a municipal water utility owned and operated by the city or town upon such terms and conditions as agreed to by the city or town and the municipal light board.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 56 - Management of Plant

Section 56. The mayor of a city, or the selectmen or municipal light board, if any, of a town acquiring a gas or electric plant shall appoint a manager of municipal lighting who shall, under the direction and control of the mayor, selectmen or municipal light board, if any, and subject to this chapter, have full charge of the operation and management of the plant, the manufacture and distribution of gas or electricity, the purchase of supplies, the employment of attorneys and of agents and servants, the method, time, price, quantity and quality of the supply, the collection of bills, and the keeping of accounts. His compensation and term of office shall be fixed in cities by the city council and in towns by the selectmen or municipal light board, if any; and, before entering upon the performance of his official duties, he shall give bond to the city or town for the faithful performance thereof in a sum and form and with sureties to the satisfaction of the mayor, selectmen or municipal light board, if any, and shall, at the end of each municipal year, render to them such detailed statement of his doings and of the business and financial matters in his charge as the department may prescribe. All moneys payable to or received by the city, town, manager or municipal light board in connection with the operation of the plant, for the sale of gas or electricity or otherwise, shall be paid to the city or town treasurer. All accounts rendered to or kept in the gas or electric plant of any city shall be subject to the inspection of the city auditor or officer having similar duties, and in towns they shall be subject to the inspection of the selectmen. The auditor or officer having similar duties, or the selectmen, may require any person presenting for settlement an account or claim against such plant to make oath before him or them, in such form as he or they may prescribe, as to the accuracy of such account or claim. The wilful making of a false oath shall be punishable as perjury. The auditor or officer having similar duties in cities, and the selectmen in towns, shall approve the payment of all bills or payrolls of such plants before they are paid by the treasurer, and may disallow and refuse to approve for payment, in whole or in part, any claim as fraudulent, unlawful or excessive; and in that case the auditor or officer having similar duties, or the selectmen, shall file with the city or town treasurer a written statement of the reasons for the refusal; and the treasurer shall not pay any claim or bill so disallowed. This section shall not abridge the powers conferred on town accountants by sections fifty-five to sixty-one, inclusive, of chapter forty-one. The manager shall at any time, when required by the mayor, selectmen, municipal light board, if any, or department, make a statement to such officers of his doings, business, receipts, disbursements, balances, and of the indebtedness of the town in his department.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 56a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 56a - Municipal Light Commission; Definition; Contracts of Members

Section 56A. The words ''municipal light commission'' as used in this section and in sections fifty-six B to fifty-six E, inclusive, shall mean a light commission, gas and electric commission or similar body established by act of the legislature and vested with all powers and duties formerly exercised by the mayor and selectmen under this chapter, and with the powers and duties conferred upon municipal light boards under this chapter.  No member of a municipal light commission or manager thereof shall directly or indirectly make a contract with the city or municipal lighting plant or receive any commission, discount, bonus, gift, contribution or reward from or any share in the profits of any person making or performing such contract unless such member or manager immediately upon learning of the existence of such contract, or that such contract is proposed, shall notify in writing the municipal light commission or city of the nature of his interest in such contract and shall abstain from doing any official act on behalf of the commission or plant in reference thereto.  A violation of any provision of this section shall render the contract in respect to which such violation occurs voidable at the option of the commission. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.  This section shall not apply to contracts of employment between a municipal lighting plant and its manager.  This section shall not apply to contracts between the city or municipal lighting plant and a corporation of which the member or manager is a stockholder or bondholder, unless the member or manager or a member of his immediate family owns or controls more than one per cent of the capital stock or more than one per cent of the outstanding bonds of such corporation.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 56b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 56b - Contracts of Commission; Requisites

Section 56B. All contracts made by a municipal light commission where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more shall be in writing. Any contract made as aforesaid may be required to be accompanied by a bond with sureties satisfactory to the municipal light commission, or by a deposit of money, certified check or other security for the faithful performance thereof, and such bonds or other securities shall be deposited with the city or town treasurer until the contract has been carried out in all respects; and no such contract shall be altered except by a written agreement of the contractor, the sureties on his bond, if any, and the officer or members of the municipal light commission making the contract.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 56c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 56c - Contracts of Commission; Filing With City or Town Auditor; Preservation; Public Inspection; Penalty

Section 56C. Every municipal light commission or manager thereof, who makes or executes a contract on behalf of a municipal lighting plant, where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more, shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city or town auditor within one week after its execution. Said city or town auditor shall keep such contract or copy on file, open to public inspection during business hours. Such contracts or copies shall be kept in a separate book, arranged according to the subject of the contract, or in other convenient form. An index of the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form. All allowances under and additions to such contracts, or copies thereof, shall be filed with the city or town auditor, together with a sworn statement of the officer making such allowances or additions that the same are correct and in accordance with the contract. A city or town auditor, municipal light commissioner or manager wilfully failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 56d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 56d - Contracts of Commission; Advertisements and Bids; Application of Section

Section 56D. No contract for the purchase of equipment, supplies or materials, the actual or estimated cost of which amounts to $50,000 or more, and no contract for the purchase of generation, transmission or distribution equipment, the actual cost or estimated cost of which amounts to $50,000 or more, except in cases of special emergencies involving the health, safety or welfare of the people or their property, shall be awarded unless proposals for the same have been invited by advertisement in at least one newspaper published in the city or town in which the lighting plant is located, or, if there is no such newspaper, in a newspaper published in the same county, such publication to be at least one week before the time specified for the opening of said proposals. Such advertisement shall state the time and place for opening the proposals in answer to said advertisement, and shall reserve to the municipal light commission the right to reject any or all such proposals. All such proposals shall be opened in public. No bill or contract shall be split or divided for the purpose of evading any provision of this section. This section shall not apply to contracts for the supply of electricity to a municipal lighting plant.