MA S2932

Establishes a new home rule charter for the Town of Rockland, Massachusetts, creating an open town meeting form of government with a 5-member select board elected to 3-year terms and an appointed town administrator serving as chief executive officer.

Requires the select board to appoint the town administrator by a 4/5 vote for terms up to 3 years, with removal requiring a 2/3 vote and 60 days notice or severance pay; candidates must have education/experience qualifications and cannot have held elected town office within 12 months prior.

Maintains elected positions for town clerk, treasurer, collector, highway superintendent, and moderator (all 3-year terms), along with elected boards for assessors, health, water commissioners, sewer commissioners, library trustees, park commissioners, school committee, planning board, and housing authority.

Creates a 15-member finance committee appointed by the town moderator and a 7-member capital planning committee to review proposed capital projects over $50,000 with useful lives of at least 5 years; sets town meeting quorum at 150 voters (50 for adjourned sessions).

Establishes recall procedures requiring 500 voters to file an affidavit and 15% of qualified voters to sign a petition, with recall elections held 60-90 days after certification; mandates periodic charter review every year ending in 5 and by-law review every year ending in 2 or 7.