Considerations for public utility acquiring certain water or sewer property or assets

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Bustos and 1 co-sponsor

Plainville charter amendment requires the select board to issue a policy statement and a written directive to department heads to guide the next year's budget.

Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry

Overview

Bill Number: H 4386

Title: An Act relative to the town charter of the town of Plainville

Sponsor: Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (9th Norfolk)

Introduced: August 7, 2025

Status/Process:

Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on 2025-08-07
Senate concurred on 2025-08-11
Hearing scheduled: September 23, 2025, 2:00 PM (Written Testimony Only)

Local Approval: Local approval received (typical for charter amendments)

Purpose and intent

The bill proposes a targeted amendment to Plainville’s Town Charter, Section C-6-3 (Annual Budget Process). Its core goal is to formalize a collaborative, policy-driven framework for the town’s annual budgeting by requiring the select board to produce guiding documents that shape budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.

Key provisions

New requirement for a policy statement: The select board, after consulting with the town administrator, the finance director, and the finance committee chair, must issue a policy statement. This statement establishes the general guidelines for the next town budget.

Written directive to department heads: Along with the policy statement, the select board must issue a written directive to department heads outlining the overarching principles and priorities that should guide the preparation of budget requests for the next fiscal year.

Scope of change: The amendments apply specifically to the annual budget process as defined in Section C-6-3 of the Plainville Town Charter. The changes are intended to influence how budget requests are prepared and submitted.

Who would be affected

Local government bodies:

Select board (primary authoring body of the policy and directive)
Town administrator
Finance director
Finance committee chair
Department heads responsible for preparing budget requests

Taxpayers/municipal residents: Potential indirect beneficiaries of a more transparent, coordinated budgeting process aligned with stated priorities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Hearing: Scheduled for September 23, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Written Testimony Only).

Legislative path:

Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (2025-08-07)
Senate concurrence reached (2025-08-11)

Related measures: HD 4973 is listed as related and noted as a replacement in the bill history; the companion or replacement measure may exist in another House docket.

Potential impact and considerations

Promotes a more proactive, principle-based budgeting process with explicit guidelines and priorities for department heads.

Could improve coordination among key town offices (administration, finance, and department leadership) and increase transparency for town residents.

The effectiveness depends on the clarity and public reliability of the policy statement and directive, as well as enforcement and follow-through within the annual budget cycle.

For readers seeking fuller context, this bill represents a local charter amendment rather than statewide policy, and its primary effect would be to institutionalize a structured, pre-budget planning process in Plainville.

Bill