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Congratulations on being selected as a new Board or Committee Member for the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea. Listed below you will find some important documents that you will need to review prior to being sworn in as a Board or Committee Member. The completion of these items is required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts law.
This handbook provide you with important important information including information on the Open Meeting Law and your responsibilities as a Board or Committee Member.
Due to mandatory educational requirements under the Ethics Reform Bill, every Town Employee and Committee member must complete an online test for the Conflict of Interest Law. Please read thru all of the information and then complete the test at the end and then print out your receipt of completion. You will need to bring this receipt to the Town Clerk's Office when you are sworn in.
The Open Meeting Law supports the principle that the democratic process depends on the public having knowledge about the considerations underlying governmental action. The Open Meeting Law requires that most meetings of governmental bodies to be held in public. There are some exceptions, which are designed to ensure that, public officials are not "unduly hampered" by having every discussion among public officials open to the public. As a result, the Open Meeting Law provides for particular circumstances under which a meeting may be held in executive, or closed, session. Please read the contents of the Open Meeting Law (above) and then also review REGULATION 940CMR 29.00.
After you review both documents, go to the RECEIPT OF OPEN MEETING LAWS. Print this docuement out and sign it. You will need to bring this receipt to the Town Clerk's Office as well when you are sworn in.
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