reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 41 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 56 - Warrants for Payment of Bills

[ Section impacted by 2020, 92, Secs. 12, 13, 16 and 17, as amended by 2020, 201, Secs. 39 to 42 and 2021, 24, Secs. 83 to 86 effective November 10, 2020, relating to service contracts in order to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.]  Section 56. The selectmen and all boards, committees, heads of departments and officers authorized to expend money shall approve and transmit to the town accountant as often as once each month all bills, drafts, orders and pay rolls chargeable to the respective appropriations of which they have the expenditure. For purposes of this section, the board of selectmen and any other board, committee or head of department consisting of more than 1 member authorized to expend money, may designate any 1 of its members to approve all bills, drafts, orders and payrolls; provided, however, that the member shall make available to the board, committee or other department head, at the first meeting following such action, a record of such actions. This provision shall not limit the responsibility of each member of the board in the event of a noncompliance with this section. Such approval shall be given only after an examination to determine that the charges are correct and that the goods, materials or services charged for were ordered and that such goods and materials were delivered and that the services were actually rendered to or for the town as the case may be; provided, however, that such approval may be given to any bill received from a state agency for the town's share of the costs of a federal urban planning assistance program, established under the provisions of section 701 of Public Law 83-560, as amended, before any goods, materials or services ordered or to be ordered under such a program have been delivered or actually rendered, as the case may be. The town accountant shall examine all such bills, drafts, orders and pay rolls, and, if found correct and approved as herein provided, shall draw a warrant upon the treasury for the payment of the same, and the treasurer shall pay no money from the treasury except upon such warrant approved by the selectmen. If there is a failure to elect or a vacancy occurs in the office of selectman, the remaining selectman or selectmen, together with the town clerk, may approve such warrant. The town accountant may disallow and refuse to approve for payment, in whole or in part, any claim as fraudulent, unlawful or excessive, and in such case he shall file with the town treasurer a written statement of the reasons for such refusal. The treasurer shall not pay any claim or bill so disallowed by the town accountant. So far as apt this section shall apply to cities.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 57 - Books of Account and Financial Records

Section 57. The town accountant shall keep a complete set of books wherein shall be entered the amount of each specific appropriation, the amounts and purposes of expenditures made therefrom, the receipts from each source of income, the amount of each assessment levied, and the abatements made; and he shall keep his accounts, so far as practicable, in conformity with the classifications and forms prescribed by the director of accounts in accordance with section forty-three of chapter forty-four and in conformity with any systems, classifications, forms and designations prescribed pursuant to regulations of the board of education for use by school committees. The town accountant shall have custody of all contracts of the town, shall keep a register of the sureties on all bonds of indemnity given to the town, shall keep a detailed record of the town debt, showing the purpose for which it was incurred, when incurred, when due, the rate of interest and the provisions made for the payment of the debt.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 58 - Duties; Notice of Condition of Appropriations; Record of Appropriations

Section 58. Whenever any appropriation shall have been expended or whenever, in the judgment of the town accountant, it appears that the liabilities incurred against any appropriation may be in excess of the unexpended balance thereof, he shall immediately notify the selectmen and the board, committee, head of department or officer authorized to make expenditures therefrom, and no claim against such appropriation shall be allowed nor any further liability incurred until the town makes provision for its payment. The town accountant shall, at regular intervals and as often at least as once each month, send to the selectmen and to each board, committee, head of department or officer having the disbursement of an appropriation a statement of the amount of orders approved and warrants drawn on behalf of said board, department or officer during the preceding month, and a statement of the balance of such appropriation remaining subject to draft. Each head of a department, board or committee authorized to expend money shall furnish the town accountant, at the close of the financial year, a list of bills remaining unpaid, showing to whom and for what due, and their amounts; and the town accountant shall incorporate the same in his annual report covering the financial transactions of the town, as provided by section sixty-one.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 59 - Annual Estimates; Furnishing to Town Accountant

Section 59. The selectmen and all boards, committees, heads of departments, or other officers of a town authorized by law to expend money shall furnish to the town accountant, or, if there is no town accountant, to the appropriation, advisory or finance committee, if any, otherwise to the selectmen, not less than ten days before the end of the calendar year, or not less than ninety days prior to the date of the start of the annual town meeting, whichever is later, detailed estimates of the amount necessary for the proper maintenance of the departments under their jurisdiction for the ensuing fiscal year, with explanatory statements as to any changes from the amounts appropriated for the same purposes in the then current fiscal year, and an estimate of amounts necessary for outlays or permanent improvements. They shall also prepare estimates of any income likely to be received by the town during the ensuing fiscal year in connection with the town's business or property intrusted to their care. The selectmen shall include in their estimates the salaries and expenses connected with their own office, and the salaries of all other town officers shall be included in the estimates for the office, department or branch of the public service of which they are in charge. The treasurer shall, in addition to his estimate of the amount required for the maintenance of his own office, prepare a separate statement indicating the amounts required for the payment of interest on the town debt and for the payment of such portions of the town debt as may become due during the ensuing fiscal year.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 60 - Table of Estimated Appropriations

Section 60. The town accountant shall immediately upon the close of each calendar year compile statements in tabulated form showing the amounts appropriated and the amounts expended from each appropriation during the preceding fiscal year, the amounts appropriated for the current fiscal year and the amounts expended from such appropriations during the first six months of such year and the amounts estimated to be expended from such appropriations during the second six months of such year, and the estimates for the next ensuing fiscal year, and shall forthwith furnish a copy thereof to the selectmen, or to such committee as the town may appoint to consider and report on proposed appropriations. The selectmen, or said committee when so appointed, shall after due consideration designate the amounts which in their opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing fiscal year, and shall accompany the same with such explanations and suggestions in relation thereto as they may deem desirable for the proper information of the inhabitants. The selectmen or, if such a committee has been appointed, the committee, shall print and distribute this document at or before the annual town meeting, and the town clerk shall transmit a copy thereof and of all town reports to the director of accounts.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 61 - Annual Report

Section 61. The town accountant shall make an annual report, to be published as a town document, giving a statement of all receipts and expenditures of the town for the past financial year, including those of funds managed by trustees or commissioners for the town and showing also the amount of each specific appropriation, the expenditures therefrom, and the purpose for which money has been spent; and said statement shall be arranged in accordance with the classifications prescribed by the director of accounts. Such report shall contain a statement of any change in the amount of the town debt during the year and a list of indebtedness incurred and unpaid at the end of the financial year.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 61a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 61a - Appointment of Temporary Officers Upon Vacancy of Certain Offices; Tenure; Bond; Removal; Powers and Duties

Section 61A. If the office of city auditor, city treasurer, city collector of taxes or other officer having charge of a city department is vacant, or if any such officer, because of disability or absence, is unable to perform his duties, the mayor, without confirmation by the city council, any provision of a city charter to the contrary notwithstanding, shall appoint a temporary officer to hold such office and exercise the powers and perform the duties thereof until another is duly elected or appointed and has qualified according to law, or the officer who was disabled or incapacitated resumes his duties; but no such temporary officer shall be appointed under this section for a period longer than sixty days. Any such temporary officer shall be sworn and give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in accordance with the provisions of law applying to the officer whose place he fills, and if he fails so to do within ten days after his appointment the mayor shall rescind the appointment and appoint another.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 62 - Highway Surveyor; Duties

Section 62. If a highway surveyor be chosen, he shall have the exclusive control of the ordinary repair of public ways in his town without being subject to the authority of the selectmen. If more than one highway surveyor be chosen, the selectmen shall annually, before May first, assign to each surveyor the limits and divisions of the ways to be kept in repair by him.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 63 - Road and Sewer Commissioners

Section 63. A town may at an annual meeting if official ballots are not used, otherwise at a meeting held at least thirty days before the annual meeting, vote to elect in the following manner three road commissioners or three sewer commissioners, or both.  It shall, at the annual meeting when such vote is passed or at the annual meeting next succeeding the meeting at which the vote was passed, elect one for one year, one for two years and one for three years; and at each annual meeting thereafter it shall elect one for three years. A town which has voted to elect said officers as herein provided may in like manner rescind such action; and thereupon, if at an annual meeting, the offices of road commissioners or sewer commissioners or both shall be abolished. If such vote is taken at a meeting held at least thirty days before the annual meeting, such abolition shall take effect at the next annual meeting. Upon the election of road commissioners as herein provided, the office of highway surveyor shall be abolished.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 64 - Road Commissioners; Powers and Duties

Section 64. If road commissioners be chosen, they shall exclusively have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties of selectmen and surveyors of highways relative to public ways, monuments at the termini and angles thereof, guide posts, sidewalks and shade trees, and, if sewer commissioners be not chosen, relative to sewers and drains.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 65 - Sewer Commissioners; Powers and Duties

Section 65. If sewer commissioners be chosen, they shall, as to sewers and drains, exclusively have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties of selectmen and road commissioners.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 66 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 66 - Superintendent of Streets; Appointment; Tenure

Section 66. In a town which has not authorized the election of a road commissioner or commissioners or a surveyor or surveyors of highways, or which, having a road commissioner or commissioners or a surveyor or surveyors of highways, has voted in accordance with section twenty-one that a superintendent of streets be appointed by the selectmen, the selectmen shall, as soon after the annual town meeting as may be, appoint in writing a superintendent of streets, who shall receive such compensation as the selectmen or the town determine and shall be removable by them when the public interest requires. He shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his duties, and shall hold office until the next annual town meeting or until his successor is qualified. Upon the qualification of a superintendent of streets appointed by the selectmen in accordance with a vote under said section twenty-one, the office or offices of highway surveyor or surveyors or road commissioner or commissioners shall terminate.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 67 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 67 - One Superintendent of Streets for Two or More Towns

Section 67. The selectmen of two or more towns may unitedly, subject to the approval of the department of highways, appoint and fix the compensation of a superintendent of streets who shall exercise the same powers and duties and be otherwise subject to the same provisions of law as if appointed in each of such towns. His compensation shall be paid by said towns in such proportions as the selectmen may unitedly determine.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 68 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 68 - Superintendent of Streets; Powers and Duties

Section 68. The superintendent of streets shall, under the direction of the selectmen, have full charge of all repairs and labor upon public ways and sidewalks, and, if no other provision is made, of repairs upon sewers and drains; and in relation to such matters he shall have the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties of surveyors of highways and road commissioners.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 69 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 69 - Superintendent of Water or Sewer Department

Section 69. If a town votes under section twenty-one to have its selectmen act as water and sewer boards, water commissioners or sewer commissioners, the selectmen may appoint a suitable person to act as superintendent of the water or sewer department or designate the superintendent of streets so to act if the town has voted to have its selectmen appoint such officer, who, subject to the control of the selectmen, shall have all necessary powers therefor.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 69a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 69a - Water Commissioners; Election; Tenure; Quorum; Vacancies

Section 69A. Any town establishing a water supply or water distributing system under authority of section thirty-nine A of chapter forty may establish a board of three water commissioners or authorize its selectmen to act as such. Such commissioners shall, in the first instance, be elected by ballot to hold office, one until the expiration of three years, one until the expiration of two years, and one until the expiration of one year, from the next succeeding annual town meeting; and at the annual town meeting held on the day on which the shortest of such terms expires, and at each annual town meeting thereafter, one such commissioner shall be elected by ballot for the term of three years. A majority of said commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. After the election of a board of water commissioners under authority of this section, any vacancy occurring in said board from any cause may be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by said town at any legal town meeting called for the purpose. Any such vacancy may be filled temporarily in the manner provided by section eleven, and the person so appointed shall perform the duties of the office until the next annual meeting of said town or until another person is qualified. Nothing herein contained shall prevent action under section twenty-one or sixty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 69b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 69b - Water Commissioners; Powers and Duties

Section 69B. The water commissioners, or the selectmen authorized to act as such, in a town establishing a water supply or water distributing system under authority of section thirty-nine A of chapter forty shall have exclusive charge and control of the water department and water system, subject to all lawful by-laws and to such instructions, rules and regulations as the town may from time to time impose by its vote. They may establish fountains and hydrants, may relocate or discontinue the same, may regulate the use of the water and fix and collect just and equitable prices and rates for the use thereof, and shall prescribe the time and manner of payment of such prices and rates. The income of the water works shall be appropriated to defray all operating expenses, interest charges and payments on the principal as they accrue upon any bonds or notes issued for the purpose of a municipal water supply. If in any fiscal year there should be a net surplus remaining after providing for the aforesaid charges for that fiscal year, such surplus, or so much thereof as may be necessary to reimburse the town for moneys theretofore paid on account of its water department, shall be paid into the town treasury. If in any fiscal year there should be a net surplus remaining after providing for the aforesaid charges and for the payment of any such reimbursement in full, such surplus may be appropriated for such new construction, extraordinary maintenance, or repairs, as the water commissioners, or selectmen authorized to act as such, with the approval of the town, may determine upon; and in case a net surplus should remain after payment for such new construction, extraordinary maintenance, or repairs, the water rates shall be reduced proportionately. Said commissioners, or the selectmen authorized to act as such, shall annually, and as often as the town may require, render a report upon the condition of the works under their charge, and an account of their doings, including an account of the receipts and expenditures.  The provisions of this section relative to the powers and duties of the water commissioners, or the selectmen acting as such, shall also apply to the commission, board or person having charge and control of the water department or water system of any city, town, or district established under special law, notwithstanding any contrary provision therein, upon the acceptance of this section by such city, town, or district.
MA Gen L ch 41 § 69c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 41 - Officers and Employees of Cities, Towns and Districts|Section 69c - Submission of Adoption of Board of Public Works to Electorate; Ballot

Section 69C. By vote of a town meeting called for the purpose in any town at least ninety days before an annual town meeting, or, in the case of a town which voted thereon and the vote was not in the affirmative, upon request by petition of ten per cent of the qualified voters of any town filed with the selectmen at least sixty days before an annual town meeting, the selectmen shall include in the warrant for such annual meeting for submission to the voters the following question, to be placed on the official ballot in towns using such ballots:—''Shall sections sixty-nine C to sixty-nine F, inclusive, of chapter forty-one of the General Laws, providing for the establishment of a board of public works exercising the powers of certain other departments and town officers be accepted?'' If a majority of the votes cast in answer to such question is in the affirmative, this section and sections sixty-nine D to sixty-nine F, inclusive, shall become fully effective beginning with, and for the purposes of, the next annual town election.