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Bill

H 5564

An Act amending the charter of the town of Bellingham to allow the Director of Finance to serve as the Town Accountant

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Soter

The bill allows the Director of Finance to also hold the Town Accountant role, aligning Bellingham with state law and consolidating financial duties under one official.

Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
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Bill Summary · H 5564

Purpose and intent

  • This bill amends the charter of the town of Bellingham to allow the Director of Finance to also serve as the Town Accountant.
  • The change aligns Bellingham’s charter with a provision permitting a chief financial officer to hold the Town Accountant role, subject to relevant state law.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Amends Article 6-2-1 of Bellingham’s charter (as set forth in the 2024 Acts) to read: “The chief financial officer may also serve as the town accountant in accordance with sections 55 to 61A, inclusive, of chapter 41 of the General Laws.”
    • This creates statutory authorization for the Director of Finance (the town’s chief financial officer) to simultaneously hold the position of Town Accountant.
    • It references and incorporates the state General Laws provisions related to the Town Accountant role (Massachusetts General Laws, Ch. 41, §§55–61A) to govern the responsibilities, qualifications, and procedures.
  • Section 2: Effective date is upon passage.

Who or what would be affected

  • The Town of Bellingham, specifically:
    • The Director of Finance (current or future) as the potential holder of both the chief financial officer and Town Accountant roles.
    • Town financial operations, including accounting functions, financial reporting, and related internal controls, would be performed or overseen by a single individual acting in both capacities.
  • State-law framework: The bill ensures compliance with Massachusetts General Laws governing the Town Accountant role when held by the Director of Finance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced as House Docket No. 6243 (H. 5564) on 6/23/2026.
  • The bill is categorized under Municipalities and Regional Government and has Local Approval Received, indicating local endorsement.
  • Current action: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on 7/6/2026.
  • Effective date: Upon passage (no separate transitional period specified).

Considerations and potential impacts

  • Administrative efficiency: Consolidating the roles could streamline financial management and reporting responsibilities.
  • Internal controls and oversight: Depending on municipal practices, combining roles may affect checks and balances between budgeting, accounting, and auditing functions; availability of independent oversight (e.g., external audits) should be considered.
  • Qualifications and safeguards: Since the arrangement is to be governed by state law (Ch. 41, §§55–61A), standard qualifications, duties, and conflict-of-interest provisions would apply as established by state law.
  • Local adoption: As a charter amendment, this change would require legislative action at the state level and would immediately take effect upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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