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S 25

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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hutto

The bill abolishes elected town clerk in Sandwich, replacing it with an appointed department head and shifting appointment authority and accountability accordingly.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 25

Summary — S.25 (2025): An Act amending the charter of the town of Sandwich

Status: Referred to committee; various legislative actions on file (introduced Jan 7, 2025).
Filed as Senate Docket No. 2618. Presented by Sen. Dylan A. Fernandes (by vote of the town).

Main purpose

To amend the Sandwich town charter to abolish the office of elected town clerk and convert the position to an appointed department‑head position subject to the town’s existing appointment process for department heads.

Key provisions

  • Amends Article IV, Section 4.1 and replaces Section 4.5 of the Sandwich charter (as appearing in Section 2 of Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2014).
  • Removes references to an elected “town clerk.”
  • Establishes a new Section 4.5 stating: there shall be an appointed town clerk; the position is a department head and shall be appointed in accordance with the process used for appointing other department heads under the charter.
  • Abolishes the elected town clerk position “notwithstanding any general or special law.”
  • Terminates the term of the incumbent elected town clerk on the act’s effective date; however, the incumbent will become the first appointed town clerk and serve for the remainder of the elected term (unless they resign, retire, or are removed earlier).
  • States the act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Voters of the Town of Sandwich: future town clerks will no longer be chosen by popular election.
  • The incumbent town clerk: their elected term is terminated upon enactment, but they are immediately appointed to serve out that term unless they leave earlier.
  • Town governance: appointment authority and supervision used for other department heads will now apply to the town clerk, altering political accountability and hiring processes for that office.
  • Candidates for future town clerk positions: will apply or be vetted through appointment procedures rather than running in elections.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Senate on Jan 7, 2025; filed Jan 28, 2025 as Senate Docket No. 2618.
  • Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; a public hearing was scheduled for May 13, 2025.
  • Committee reported favorably (filed June 18, 2025) and the measure was placed in Orders of the Day; additional readings occurred thereafter.
  • The bill text specifies it takes effect immediately upon passage.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Governance change from electoral to appointive control for an officer who performs statutory functions (e.g., elections, vital records, public records) may shift accountability from voters to appointing authorities.
  • The transitional provision preserves continuity by appointing the current elected clerk as the first appointed clerk for the remainder of the term.
  • Local officials and residents may consider impacts on transparency, independence of the clerk’s statutory duties, and alignment with other municipal appointment practices.

For primary source details, see the bill text as filed (Senate Docket No. 2618, S.25).

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

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