By Mr. Knapik, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 2159) of Michael Knapik and Donald F. Humason, Jr.
(with approval of mayor and city council) for legislation
relative to the city of Westfield regarding the Westfield
Municipal Light Board. Telecommunications, Utilities and
Energy. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 294 of the Acts of 1920 or of any other general or special law or ordinance of the City of Westfield to the contrary, the Municipal Light Board of the City of Westfield shall consist of one member from each ward of the City to be elected for a term of two years at the regular city election to be held in the year Two Thousand and Seven and at each biennial city election thereafter and one member to be appointed by the Mayor for a term of two years, subject to City Council confirmation, the first such appointed member to take office concurrent with the Board elected as a result of the Two Thousand and Seven city election or as soon as thereafter as is possible, said appointed member to hold office until the second Wednesday of January, Two Thousand and Ten or until his successor be duly appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in said Board among members elected by ward shall be filled until the swearing to office of the members of the Board elected as a result of the city election next following the vacancy in the same manner as vacancies on the School Committee are filled in accordance with City Charter, through convention of the Municipal Light Board and the City Council.
Section 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 294 of the Acts of 1920 or of any general or special law or ordinance of the City of Westfield to the contrary, to the extent that remuneration is provided for service on the Board, all members, whether elected or appointed, shall receive, from the available funds of the Westfield Gas and Electric Light Department, the same monetary compensation and shall be allowed access to the same benefits on the same terms.
Section 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 294 of the Acts of 1920 or of any general or special law or ordinance of the City of Westfield to the contrary, the decisions and actions of the Municipal Light Board undertaken by said Board since the enlargement of the Board to six members as a result of the city election held in the year Two Thousand and Three shall not be subject to challenge due to the numbers of members or the method of selection of the members of said Board and all such decisions or acts undertaken by said six member Board as otherwise lawful and within the authority of a municipal light board as provided in the general laws are hereby ratified and approved and said Board, as presently elected and constituted is hereby empowered to exercise all power and authority of a Municipal Light Board as allowed by City Charter and the general laws.
