reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 39 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 1 - Allocation of Powers

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, city councils shall have the powers of towns; boards of aldermen shall have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities of selectmen, except with respect to appointments, and the mayor shall have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities of selectmen with respect to appointments, but all his appointments shall be subject to confirmation and rejection by the aldermen, and upon the rejection of a person so appointed the mayor shall within one month thereafter make another appointment. In cities having a single legislative board other than a board of aldermen, such board shall, so far as appropriate and not inconsistent with the express provisions of any general or special law, have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities of the board of aldermen.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 2 - Presiding Officer of Board of Aldermen; Voting Rights

Section 2. If the mayor acts as presiding officer of the board of aldermen, he shall not vote in meetings of said board nor in conventions of the two branches of the city council. The board of aldermen may elect one of its number as president, who shall, in the absence of the mayor, preside at meetings of the board. This section shall apply to every city, notwithstanding any special law enacted prior to April twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-two.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 3 - Elections of City Officers by Municipal Bodies; Manner of Voting

Section 3. No election of a city officer by a municipal body or board shall be valid unless made by a viva voce vote, each member present answering to his name when called by the clerk or other proper officer, stating the name of the person for whom he votes, or that he declines to vote. The clerk or other proper officer shall record every such vote.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 4 - Mayor to Sign Every Ordinance; Veto Power; Effect

Section 4. Every ordinance, order, resolution or vote requiring the concurrence of the board of aldermen and of the common council, except the question of a convention of the two branches or of the election of an officer, shall be presented to the mayor. If he approves it, he shall sign it; if he disapproves it, he shall return it, with his written objections, to the branch wherein it originated, which shall enter such objections at large on its records and again consider it; and if two thirds of the members present and voting pass it, notwithstanding such objections, it shall, if not originally requiring concurrent action, be in force; but if originally requiring concurrent action, it shall be sent, with the objections of the mayor, to the other branch, where it shall be again considered, and if passed by two thirds of the members present and voting, it shall be in force; but in all cases the vote shall be by yeas and nays. Such ordinance, order, resolution or vote shall be in force if not returned by the mayor within ten days after it has been presented to him. This section shall not apply to budgets submitted under section thirty-two of chapter forty-four, or to appropriations by a city council under section thirty-three of said chapter.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 5 - Performance of Mayoralty Duties During Vacancy

Section 5. Except as otherwise provided by city charters, upon the death, resignation or absence of the mayor, or his inability to perform the duties of his office, the president of the board of aldermen shall perform them; and if there is no such officer, or if he also is absent or unable from any cause to perform them, they shall be performed by the president of the common council, or, if there is no such officer, or if he is absent or unable to perform such duties, by such alderman as the board of aldermen may from time to time elect, until the mayor or the president of the board of aldermen is able to attend to said duties or until the vacancy is filled. The person upon whom such duties devolve shall be called ''acting mayor'' and shall possess the powers of mayor only in matters not admitting of delay, and shall not make permanent appointments.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 6 - Election Warrants; Issuance; Acceptance of Provisions of Section

Section 6. If, at or after the time for the mayor and aldermen to enter upon the performance of their duties, it appears that the mayor or the full number of aldermen has not been elected, such of said officers as have been elected shall issue warrants for the election of a mayor or of aldermen as the case may be. If none of said officers has been elected, the president of the common council shall issue such warrants. If no mayor has been elected, the president of the board of aldermen shall perform the duties of the office until a mayor is chosen and sworn. If there is a vacancy in the board of aldermen, in the common council, or in a city or ward office which is to be filled by an election of the people, the board of aldermen shall issue their warrant for an election to fill such vacancy at a time and place designated by them. A city officer shall, notwithstanding his removal from one ward of the city to another, continue to perform his official duties during his term of office. This section shall not be in effect in any city unless the city council accepts it or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 6a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 6a - Municipal Salaries; Increases and Decreases; Procedure

Section 6A. Notwithstanding the provisions of any city charter to the contrary, the mayor and the members of the city council, or other legislative body of a city, shall receive for their services such salary as the city council or other legislative body of a city shall by ordinance determine, and shall receive no other compensation from such city, except that a member of a city council of said city may receive a salary for serving as an instructor in a municipal college of such city, except that a member of a city or town council in a municipality with a city or town council form of government may receive a salary for serving as a municipal employee of said municipality in lieu of receiving compensation for serving as a member of said council and except that, in accordance with the provision of the seventh paragraph of section twenty of chapter two hundred and sixty-eight A, any elected municipal official, other than a mayor, may choose to receive either the compensation for such service or compensation for service as an employee of a housing authority in such municipality, but may not receive both. No increase or reduction in such salaries shall take effect during the year in which such increase or reduction is voted, and no change in such ordinance shall be made between the election of a new council or other legislative body and the qualification of the new council or other legislative body. Such ordinance shall be subject to the provisions of sections forty-two, forty-three and forty-four of chapter forty-three.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 7 - Holding Other Offices

Section 7. The mayor or an alderman or a member of the common council of a city which adopts this section or has adopted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, may at the same time hold any other office under the city government to which he may be chosen, except one of emolument.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 8 - Compatibility of Offices

Section 8. No member of the city council shall, during the term for which he was chosen, either by appointment or by election of the city council or of either branch thereof, be eligible to any office the salary of which is payable by the city.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 8a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 8a - Removal of Officers; Procedure; Exception

Section 8A. Unless otherwise provided in any general law or in any special law relating to a city, any officer or official appointed or elected by the city council may be removed by said council for cause after a public hearing, written notice of which shall be given said officer or official fourteen days, at least, prior to the date thereof. This section shall not apply to any officer or official who is subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 9 - Annual Meeting; Other Meetings; Election of Officers; Times; Adjournment; Holidays

[ Section impacted by 2020, 45, Secs. 1 and 1A, as amended by 2020, 92, Secs. 1 to 3, effective March 23, 2020, 2020, 92 Secs. 9 and 15 to 17 effective June 5, 2020 and 2021, 5, Secs. 1 and 2, effective March 16, 2021, relating to elections in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]  Section 9. Except as otherwise provided by special law or a charter adopted or revised or amended under Sections two, three, or four of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth which may provide for a different time for the election of town officials and other matters to be determined by ballot, the annual meeting of each town shall be held in February, March, April, May or June; and other meetings may be held at such times as the selectmen may order or the charter or by-law prescribe; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the provisions of this section or of any other law, by-law, or charter to the contrary, a town, by the vote of its board of selectmen or town council may delay the annual town meeting; and provided, further, that such a delayed annual town meeting shall complete its business on or before June 30 except in the event of an emergency that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of persons or property that prevents the completion of the business of the delayed town meeting on or before June 30 if the governor has declared a state of emergency with respect to such emergency. Town meetings shall be held within the geographic limits of the town unless a special law, charter or by-law provides otherwise; provided, however, that any meeting for the election by ballot of federal, state or other officers or the determination of other matters that are to be determined by ballot at an election shall be held within the geographic limits of the town. Meetings may be adjourned from time to time and meet and adjourn to any place authorized by law provided that officers shall be elected, and matters required by law to be elected or determined by ballot, shall be so elected or determined during the hours during which polls shall remain open as hereinafter provided. If the day set for a town meeting by by-law or otherwise falls on a legal holiday, such meetings shall be held on the day following. A town may by by-law designate the hour at which the annual town meeting shall be called and subject to section sixty-four of chapter fifty-four by vote or by-law designate the hours during which polls shall remain open in meetings for the election of officers and the determination of other matters that are required by law to be determined by ballot.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 9a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 9a - Election of Officers and Other Matters Determined by Ballot; Meetings; Time and Place; Warrants

Section 9A. Except as otherwise provided by special law or a charter adopted or revised or amended under Sections two, three or four of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, a town may provide by charter or by-law that the election of town officials and other matters to be determined by ballot shall take place in February, March, April, May or June before or after the annual meeting held for the transaction of other business, provided said annual meeting for the transaction of other business is also held or commences in February, March, April, May or June. The time and place of holding such election and vote and meeting for the transaction of other business may be stated in one warrant for the annual town meeting if called within thirty-five days of each other and such election and vote shall be deemed parts of the annual town meeting. If the election and other matters to be determined upon by ballot and the annual meeting for the transaction of other business are more than thirty-five days apart, separate warrants shall be used.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 11 - Persons Authorized to Call Meetings Upon Resignation of Selectmen

Section 11. If a majority of the selectmen or any less number shall vacate their offices, or if the full number shall fail to be elected or qualified, the selectmen in office may call a town meeting. If there are no remaining selectmen, the town clerk may call it; and, if there is no town clerk, a justice of the peace may call it in the manner prescribed in the following section.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 12 - Persons Authorized to Call Meetings Upon Refusal of Selectmen

Section 12. If the selectmen unreasonably refuse to call a town meeting, a justice of the peace, upon written application of one hundred registered voters or of ten per cent of the total number of registered voters of the town, may call a meeting by a warrant under his hand, stating the subjects to be acted upon, directed to the constables of the town if there are any, otherwise to any of the persons applying therefor, directing them to summon the inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs to assemble at the time and place and for the purposes expressed in the warrant. In a town having a form of representative town meeting government a special town meeting called under this section shall be conducted as a representative town meeting, and notice thereof shall be given to the town meeting members as provided by law.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 13 - Quorum; Application of Section

[Section impacted by 2020, 92, Sec. 7, 16 and 17, as amended by 2021, 20, Sec. 8 effective June 5, 2020 and 2022, 22, Sec. 15 effective February 12, 2022 relating to town meeting quorum requirements in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]   Section 13. Towns may prescribe by by-law the number of voters necessary to constitute a quorum at town meetings; provided, that a number less than a quorum may from time to time adjourn the same. This section shall not apply to such parts of meetings as are devoted exclusively to the election of town officers.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 15 - Moderators; Powers and Duties

Section 15. The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes, and may administer in open meeting the oath of office to any town officer chosen thereat. If a vote so declared is immediately questioned by seven or more voters, he shall verify it by polling the voters or by dividing the meeting unless the town has by a previous order or by-law provided another method. If a two thirds, four fifths or nine tenths vote of a town meeting is required by statute, the count shall be taken, and the vote shall be recorded in the records by the clerk; provided, however, that a town may decide by by-law or vote not to take a count and record the vote if a two-thirds vote of a town meeting is required by statute; and provided, further, that if the vote is unanimous, a count need not be taken, and the clerk shall record the vote as unanimous.  A town may pass by-laws, subject to this section, for the regulation of the proceedings at town meetings. Such by-laws shall be approved and published in the manner prescribed by section thirty-two of chapter forty.  In any town having a representative town meeting form of government the town meeting members shall not use the secret ballot when voting in the exercise of the corporate powers of said town or on any motion unless two thirds of the town meeting members present and voting thereon vote that a secret ballot be used.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 16 - Appropriation, Advisory or Finance Committees; Appointment; Tenure; Powers and Duties

Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election.  In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 17 - Powers of Moderator; Preservation of Order

Section 17. No person shall address a town meeting without leave of the moderator, and all persons shall, at the request of the moderator, be silent. If a person, after warning from the moderator, persists in disorderly behavior, the moderator may order him to withdraw from the meeting, and, if he does not withdraw, may order a constable or any other person to remove him and confine him in some convenient place until the meeting is adjourned.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 18 - Duties of Moderators; Reception of Votes

Section 18. The moderator shall receive the vote of any person whose name is on the voting list or who presents a proper certificate from the registrars of voters.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 20 - Precinct Voting

Section 20. Towns divided into voting precincts may, for their annual town election, establish precinct voting for all town officers to be chosen thereat, by accepting this section at a meeting held seventy days at least before the annual town meeting. The acceptance of this section or corresponding provisions of earlier laws may be revoked by the town at a meeting held seventy days at least before the annual town meeting; and if so revoked this section shall cease to be in force therein. Towns by vote or by-law may authorize voting precincts at special elections of town officers.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 21 - Canvass of Returns

Section 21. The town clerk and the board of registrars, upon receipt of the returns from the several precincts, shall forthwith canvass the same, and immediately declare the result.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 23d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 23d - Adjudicatory Hearings; Attendance by Municipal Board, Committee and Commission Members; Voting Disqualification

Section 23D. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon municipal acceptance of this section for 1 or more types of adjudicatory hearings, a member of any municipal board, committee or commission when holding an adjudicatory hearing shall not be disqualified from voting in the matter solely due to that member's absence from no more than a single session of the hearing at which testimony or other evidence is received. Before any such vote, the member shall certify in writing that he has examined all evidence received at the missed session, which evidence shall include an audio or video recording of the missed session or a transcript thereof. The written certification shall be part of the record of the hearing. Nothing in this section shall change, replace, negate or otherwise supersede applicable quorum requirements.  (b) By ordinance or by-law, a city or town may adopt minimum additional requirements for attendance at scheduled board, committee, and commission hearings under this section.
MA Gen L ch 39 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 39 - Municipal Government|Section 24 - Application of Chapter

Section 24. The provisions of this chapter shall be in force only so far as they are not inconsistent with the express provisions of any general or special law; and, so far as apt, shall apply to districts as defined in section one A of chapter forty.
MA Gen L ch 40 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40 - Powers and Duties of Cities and Towns|Section 1 - Nature and Scope

Section 1. Cities and towns shall be bodies corporate, and, except as otherwise expressly provided, shall have the powers, exercise the privileges and be subject to the duties and liabilities provided in the several acts establishing them and in the acts relating thereto. Except as otherwise expressly provided, cities shall have all the powers of towns and such additional powers as are granted to them by their charters or by general or special law, and all laws relative to towns shall apply to cities.