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H 3952

An Act authorizing Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 to appoint the position of Treasurer

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Christopher Markey

The bill lets Dartmouth Fire District No. 1’s Prudential Committee appoint the Treasurer for up to three years, with contract-based salary and district budget control.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 96 of the Acts of 2025
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Bill Summary · H 3952

Comprehensive Summary: H 3952 — An Act authorizing Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 to appoint the position of Treasurer

Overview

H 3952 proposes a local change to how the Treasurer for Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 is selected and compensated. Instead of the Treasurer’s status being dictated by general or district-wide governance rules, the bill would authorize the district’s Prudential Committee to appoint the Treasurer for a term of up to three years. The appointment can be renewed, but only in the last year of the current term, and salaries would be set by contract subject to District Meeting appropriations. The bill also allows suspension or termination of the Treasurer per the employment contract. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.

Key Provisions

  • Appointment authority: The Treasurer of Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 would be appointed by the district’s Prudential Committee (instead of following other applicable general or special laws or district meeting rules).
  • Term length and renewal: The initial term may run up to three years. The Treasurer may be reappointed for another such term, but only during the last year of the current term.
  • Compensation: Salary to be determined through an employment contract with the Prudential Committee and subject to appropriation by the District Meeting.
  • Employment discipline: The Prudential Committee may suspend, terminate, or otherwise discipline the Treasurer per the terms of the employment contract.
  • Supersession of existing law: The act provides that, notwithstanding any general or special law (including district-adopted rules), the Treasurer’s appointment is governed by these new provisions.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Administrative and Financial Impact

  • Local control: Shifts appointment authority from potentially elected or other pathways to the Prudential Committee, increasing executive control within the district’s governing body.
  • Budgeting and payroll: Salary is contract-based and must be funded through District Meeting appropriations, linking compensation to the district’s annual budget process and potential flexibility in compensation terms.
  • Continuity and oversight: Fixed terms (up to three years) with limited renewal opportunities may promote stability in financial management while enabling periodic review by the Prudential Committee.

Who Is Affected

  • Dartmouth Fire District No. 1: The Treasurer position and related financial administration.
  • Prudential Committee: Becomes the appointing and managing body for the Treasurer, including contract terms and discipline.
  • District Meeting: Responsible for budget appropriations affecting Treasurer compensation.
  • The District’s finances and administrative staff who interact with the Treasurer.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: March 31, 2025.
  • House actions: Filed January 17, 2025 (House Docket No. 4065), with subsequent committee consideration and favorable reporting noted.
  • Senate actions: Read and referred to Senate Rules (status reflected as of August 28, 2025); companion bill exists (HD 4065) and is part of the same legislative track.
  • The bill is currently in a stage where committee deliberations, hearings, and potential further votes are anticipated.

Related Information

  • Related House Bill: HD 4065 (companion/replaces).
  • The bill’s language explicitly supersedes conflicting general or district-specific laws to enable the Prudential Committee appointment framework.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing Massachusetts statutes governing fire district treasurers or summarize potential constitutional or municipal-law considerations.

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

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