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HD 4911

An Act changing the name of the Board of Selectmen in the Town of Williamsburg to Select Board

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Mark and 1 co-sponsor

Renames Williamsburg's governing body from the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board and its members from selectmen to select board members, with no change in powers.

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Bill Summary · HD 4911

Summary of HB HD 4911: An Act changing the name of the board of selectmen in the town of Williamsburg to select board

Overview

  • Bill Number: HD 4911
  • Title: An Act changing the name of the board of selectmen in the town of Williamsburg to select board.
  • Sponsor(s): Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Sen. Paul W. Mark (joint petition)
  • Local action: Petition indicates local approval received (by vote of the town)
  • Filed: July 11, 2025
  • Introduced: November 29, 2025
  • Status: Not specified in the provided materials

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to rename Williamsburg’s executive town government body from “the Board of Selectmen” to “the Select Board,” and to rename the members from “selectmen” to “select board members.” The change is intended to align terminology with contemporary practice while preserving the same powers and authority under general or special law.

Key provisions

1) Rename and continuity of authority
- The town’s executive body, previously known as the board of selectmen, shall be known as the select board.
- The members previously known as selectmen shall be known as select board members.
- The select board shall have the powers and authority of a board of selectmen under applicable laws.

2) By-law references and housekeeping
- The select board may amend the town’s general bylaws and zoning bylaws by a majority vote to revise all references from “board of selectmen” and “selectmen” to “select board” and “select board members,” respectively.
- The authority to make these revisions applies notwithstanding certain specified general laws (e.g., sections 21 and 32 of Chapter 40, Section 5 of Chapter 40A, or other laws).

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what is affected

  • The Town of Williamsburg’s executive governing body and its governance documents:
    • Official title: “select board” (instead of “board of selectmen”)
    • Members: “select board members” (instead of “selectmen”)
  • Town by-laws and zoning by-laws referencing the former terminology.
  • Public-facing materials, records, and forms that reference the board’s name and its members.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill is a local act specific to Williamsburg.
  • It includes a mechanism for updating by-laws to reflect the name change.
  • Local approval status is indicated as received via the petition.
  • The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

Potential impacts

  • Administrative: Required updates to town documents, signage, websites, official records, and forms to reflect the new terminology.
  • Legal: No change in authority or duties; all powers remain those of a board of selectmen, merely renamed.
  • Policy: No substantive policy changes; focuses on terminology and consistency with modern municipal naming conventions.

Additional notes

  • The bill is a targeted local act, affecting only Williamsburg. It preserves existing governance structures while updating nomenclature to “select board” and “select board members.”

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

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