30-A §2602. Vacancy in municipal office
Title 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Subpart 3: MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Chapter 123: MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
§2602. Vacancy in municipal office
1. When vacancy exists. A vacancy in a municipal office may occur by the following means:
A. Nonacceptance; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. Resignation; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. Death; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
D. Removal from the municipality; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
E. Permanent disability or incompetency; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
F. Failure to qualify for the office within 10 days after written demand by the municipal officers; or [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
G. Failure of the municipality to elect a person to office. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
2. Vacancy in office other than selectman or school committee. When there is a vacancy in a town office other than that of selectman or school committee, the selectmen may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
[ 1991, c. 270, §3 (AMD) .]
3. Vacancy in office of selectman. When there is a vacancy in the office of selectman, the selectmen may call a town meeting to elect a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
[ 1991, c. 270, §3 (AMD) .]
4. Vacancy in school committee. A vacancy in a municipality's school committee shall be filled as provided in Title 20-A, section 2305, subsection 4.
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
5. Person appointed qualifies. The person appointed to fill a vacant office must qualify in the same manner as one chosen in the regular course of municipal activity.
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
6. Home rule authority. Under its home rule authority, a municipality may apply different provisions governing the existence of vacancies in municipal offices and the method of filling those vacancies as follows:
A. Any change in the provisions of this section relating to a school committee must be accomplished by charter; and [1993, c. 369, §1 (AMD).]
B. Any change in the provisions of this section relating to any other municipal office may be accomplished by charter or ordinance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[ 1993, c. 369, §1 (AMD) .]
7. Authority to act. Words in any statute, charter or ordinance giving authority to 3 or more persons authorize a majority to act when the statute, charter or ordinance does not otherwise specify. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a vacancy on an elected or appointed municipal or quasi-municipal body does not in itself impair the authority of the remaining members to act unless a statute, charter or ordinance expressly prohibits the municipal or quasi-municipal body from acting during the period of any vacancy and does not in itself affect the validity of any action no matter when taken.
[ 2007, c. 396, §3 (NEW); 2007, c. 396, §4 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). 1989, c. 6, (AMD). 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD). 1991, c. 270, §3 (AMD). 1993, c. 369, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 396, §3 (AMD). 2007, c. 396, §4 (AFF).