HB 139 Summary

• Amends the Town of Townsend Charter to revise election procedures, including establishing a Board of Elections to oversee elections and changing the Mayor selection process to occur after each annual election with a 12-month service requirement for electing Council members as Mayor.

• Modifies Town Council composition and voting requirements: ordinances require affirmative votes from a majority of Council including the Mayor (3 of 5 votes); emergency ordinances also require majority vote including the Mayor.

• Adds new provisions for candidate background checks that must be completed by Town Council reorganization meeting in June, with failure to pass creating a vacancy in office.

• Clarifies disqualification and removal procedures for Mayor and Council members, including automatic departure for certain reasons (resignation, death, felony conviction, malfeasance) or removal by majority Council vote if they do not leave voluntarily.

• Updates various administrative provisions including Town Manager removal requirements (changed from 4 members to all members including Mayor), police force certification requirements, and clarifies that ordinance summaries can be published on the Town website rather than only newspapers.