Massachusetts H 4153: An Act establishing a charter for the city of Somerville

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4716 FILED ON: 5/19/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4153

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a charter for the city of Somerville.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Christine P. Barber 34th Middlesex 5/19/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4716 FILED ON: 5/19/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4153
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4153) of
Christine P. Barber (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to establishing a
charter for the city of Somerville. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval
Received.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________

An Act establishing a charter for the city of Somerville.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 SECTION 1. The following shall be the charter for the city of Somerville:
2 PREAMBLE
3 We, the people of Somerville, with our diversity in culture and thought, in order to
4 reaffirm the liberties of the people with respect to the conduct of our local government, adopt
5 this charter to continue and enhance the city’s strong traditions of the pursuit of justice;
6 empowerment of residents; ethical, transparent and responsive leadership; wise use of public
7 resources; representation for all; and an engaged populace. We expect that our government will
8 be approachable, accountable, equitable, inclusive, and respectful towards all people, and it will
9 strive to provide all residents an equal opportunity to participate fully in the economic, cultural
10 and intellectual life of the city.
11 ARTICLE 1

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12 INCORPORATION; SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS
13 SECTION 1-1: INCORPORATION
14 The residents of the City of Somerville within the territorial limits established by law,
15 shall continue to be a municipal corporation, a body corporate and politic, under the name "City
16 of Somerville.”
17 SECTION 1-2: SHORT TITLE
18 This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the City of Somerville Charter
19 (“charter”).
20
21 SECTION 1-3: SEPARATION OF POWERS
22 The administration of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the city shall be
23 vested in an executive branch led by a mayor and a legislative branch consisting of a city
24 council. The legislative branch shall never exercise any executive power and the executive
25 branch shall never exercise any legislative power.
26 SECTION 1-4: POWERS OF THE CITY
27 Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power or function by a
28 municipal government in the constitution or General Laws, it is the intention and the purpose of
29 the voters of the city, through the adoption of this charter, to secure for themselves and their
30 government all of the powers it is possible to secure as fully and as completely as though each
31 power were specifically and individually enumerated in this charter.

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32 SECTION 1-5: CONSTRUCTION
33 The powers of the city under this charter are to be construed liberally in favor of the city
34 and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers of
35 the city as stated in section 1-4. To the extent that any provision of this charter shall conflict with
36 any special act or law adopted by the city to the contrary, the provisions of this charter shall
37 prevail.
38 SECTION 1-6: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
39 Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or General Laws, the city may
40 exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions and may participate in the financing
41 thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the commonwealth or any of its
42 agencies or political subdivisions, or with the United States government or any of its agencies.
43 SECTION 1-7: DEFINITIONS
44 Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the
45 following meanings as used in this charter:
46 (1) “Business day”, any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. For the
47 purposes of this definition, legal holiday shall mean Massachusetts legal holidays as published
48 by the secretary of the commonwealth.
49 (2) “Charter”, this charter and any adopted amendments to it.
50 (3) “City”, the City of Somerville.
51 (4) “City agency”, any multiple member body, department, division or office of the city.

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52 (5) “City officer” or “department head”, a person having charge of a city office or
53 department.
54 (6) “Ci