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H 4818

An Act increasing the membership of the Select Board for the Town of Lancaster

193rd Legislature (2023-2024) Introduced by John Cronin

The act expands Lancaster’s Select Board from 3 to 5 members, with a staged transition and voter approval required to implement.

Signed by the , Chapter of the Acts of 2024
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Bill Summary · H 4818

Summary: An Act Increasing the Membership of the Select Board for the Town of Lancaster (H.4818)

Overview

H.4818 proposes to expand the Town of Lancaster’s elected governing body, the Select Board, from 3 members to 5 members. The act establishes a framework for transitioning to a 5-member board, including how initial terms would be allocated and how future terms would be set. It requires voter approval at the town level to take effect.

Main purpose and intent

  • Increase representation and governance capacity for Lancaster by expanding the Select Board from three to five members.
  • Create a structured transition plan to a five-member board with staggered, multi-year terms.
  • Ensure the Select Board chair is elected annually by board members from among their number.

Key provisions

Section 1 — Increase in board size

  • The number of Select Board members shall increase from 3 to 5.
  • The Select Board must annually elect a chairperson from among its members.

Section 2 — Initial terms and transition

  • Following voter acceptance, three (3) Select Board members will be elected at the first Annual Town Election after acceptance (but not before the 2026 election).
  • Term lengths for the initial three new members:
    • Highest vote-getter: 3-year term
    • Second-highest: 2-year term
    • Third-highest: 1-year term
  • After these initial terms, successors shall be elected to 3-year terms.
  • Terms of current Select Board members at the time of adoption remain unchanged.

Section 3 — Local approval and implementation

  • The act must be submitted to Lancaster voters at the next Annual or Special Town Election following passage, via the ballot question:
    • “Shall an act passed by the General Court entitled, 'An Act increasing the membership of the Select Board of the Town of Lancaster' be accepted?”
  • If a majority votes in the affirmative, Sections 1 and 2 take effect; otherwise they do not.

Section 4 — Effective date

  • Section 3 (the voter approval provision) takes effect upon passage.

Timelines and status

  • Introduced: July 2, 2024
  • Public hearing and committee action: July–August 2024
  • Enacted: December 19, 2024
  • Signed into law: January 2, 2025 (Chapter number not specified in the provided text)
  • Local acceptance: Requires majority approval by Lancaster voters at the next Annual or Special Town Election after enactment

Who is affected

  • Town of Lancaster: Governing structure and election cycles.
  • Select Board members: Future membership changes, staggered terms, and leadership selection.
  • Lancaster voters: Required to vote on whether to accept the increase in board size.

Additional notes

  • The act is labeled as local approval required ("Local Approval Received") and is related to HD 5224 (replaces).
  • The current board terms remain in place until the new structure is accepted and the transitional terms are implemented.

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

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