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H 4243

Johnny M. Morant Highway

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Carl Anderson and 1 co-sponsor

Ipswich's town manager terms are set to three years, with appointment by the Select Board based on qualifications, no residency requirement, and optional reappointments.

Adopted, returned to House with concurrence
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Bill Summary · H 4243

Summary — H.4243 (Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2025)

Status: Enacted (Signed by Governor, Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2025).
Introduced: June 30, 2025.
Primary sponsor: Rep. Kristin E. Kassner (cosponsored by Sen. Bruce E. Tarr).
Classification: Local act amending a town charter (Town of Ipswich — Chapter 620, Acts of 1966).

Purpose

To amend Section 6 of Chapter 620 of the Acts of 1966 (Ipswich town charter) to revise the terms, qualifications, and appointment procedure for the Town Manager — including removing any town-residency requirement implicit in prior language — and to codify appointment, oath, bond, and reappointment provisions.

Key provisions

  • Strikes out the existing Section 6 of Chapter 620 (Acts of 1966) and inserts a new Section 6 with the following main elements:
    • Appointment: The Select Board shall appoint a Town Manager for a term of three (3) years.
    • Qualifications: The Town Manager must be “especially fitted by education, training and experience” to perform the duties of the office.
    • Political test prohibited: Appointment shall be made without regard to the Town Manager’s political beliefs.
    • Reappointment: The Select Board may reappoint an incumbent for successive three‑year terms as the board determines to be in the town’s best interests.
    • Oath and bond: Before assuming duties, the Town Manager must be sworn to faithful and impartial performance by the Select Board chair, town clerk, or a justice of the peace, and must execute a fidelity bond in favor of the town in a sum and with surety approved by the Select Board.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected / impact

  • Town of Ipswich officials: Select Board procedures for hiring and reappointing the Town Manager will operate under the new, three‑year term structure and the stated qualification standard.
  • Town Manager candidates and incumbents: The change broadens potential candidate pool by emphasizing professional qualifications and prohibiting political litmus tests; omission of residency language (compared to prior charter text) effectively allows appointment without a town‑residency requirement (unless other local rules require residency).
  • Residents and municipal operations: Potential effects include expanded recruitment options for professional managers and continuity advantages from multi‑year appointments and possible successive reappointments.

Procedural history / timeline highlights

  • Introduced late June 2025; referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; committee hearings held July 22, 2025.
  • Committee reported favorably; bill advanced through readings in the House and Senate during summer–fall 2025.
  • Senate concurrence recorded (July 3, 2025); later amendments and final engrossment occurred in November 2025.
  • Enacted and laid before the Governor in November 2025 and signed into law (Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2025); the law took effect upon passage.

Note on file contents

The legislative file also contains the full text of an unrelated South Carolina concurrent resolution naming a portion of Exodus Drive the “Johnny Morant Highway.” That South Carolina resolution is not part of the Ipswich charter amendment and appears to be included by clerical aggregation in the provided materials. This summary addresses the enacted Massachusetts local act amending Ipswich’s charter.

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

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