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SPECIFIC APPROPRIATION - An appro- CHAPTER 7—PUBLIC RECORDS AND priation made by Town Meeting that is OPEN MEETINGS described within the vote, making the appro- priation as being"specific,"and is otherwise a History: Added 5-3-2004 ATM, Article 17, "specific appropriation"under the law. approved by Attorney General on 8-23-2004 §6-21. General Appropriations. General appropri- §74. Purpose. This bylaw shall be known as the ations made by the Town Meeting shall con- "Public Records and Open Meeting Bylaw.,, .i tinue to revert to the general fund at the close The purpose of this bylaw is to ensure open of the fiscal year for which they are made, as access to public records and meetings; to pro- provided by law. vide for adequate disclosure of matters con- cerning the public interest and the account- §6-22. Specific Appropriations. ability of Town Boards, Committees and Commissions; and to provide for strengthened A. Unless otherwise provided in a vote of the local control and enforcement of the Town Meeting making a specific appro- Commonwealth's Open Meeting Law, priation, or unless a specific appropriation Chapter 39, Sections 23A and B, and the ` has been encumbered by contractual Public Records Law, Chapter 66 of the obligations, a specific appropriation shall Massachusetts General Laws, and any related have a normal life of three (3) years from regulations or interpretations issued by the the commencement of the fiscal year, any Attorney General or Secretary of State of the funds remaining in that appropriation Commonwealth in effect at the time of adop- shall revert to the general fund. A vote tion of this bylaw. making a specific appropriation may pro- vide that the appropriation shall revert to A. The Town recognized the importance of: ,j the general fund at the end of any fiscal year. 1. Open public meetings B. The Town may, at any time under a proper 2. Properly posted public meeting notices ,) article in a Warrant, extend the date on which a specific appropriation would oth- 3. Accurate documentation of the record of erwise revert to the general fund. all public meetings }I C. The reversion of the balance of the funds 4. Timely preparation of minutes in the specific appropriation account shall include any subsequent transfer of funds 5. Timely filing of approved minutes with j to the specific account that remain unex- the Town Clerk i pended on the date of the reversion. 6. Record retention in accordance with State §6-23. Exception. Nothing in this Article shall be regulations construed to affect the right of any creditor of the Town, regardless of the reversion of any 7. Audio sound(tape)recording of the meet- appropriation to the general fund. ings of key Town boards, committees,and commissions 8. Enforcement of the provisions of this F. bylaw. §7-2. Jurisdiction. Because regulatory authorities F' subject citizens to fees, fines and regulations, and the Town to possible litigation,the Town's { interest is best served by requiring the follow- ing to comply with all provisions of this 116