TOWN OF DEDHAM  
REVISED BY–LAWS

2003 EDITION

  INDEX  

    Table of Contents
                                                                                                                                           

CHAPTER ONE    GENERAL PROVISIONS

                            Section 1.                   Citation; Time of Taking Effect

                            Section 2.                   Continuation of By–Laws; Effect of Repeal

                            Section 3.                   References to Offices to Include Successors

                            Section 4.                   Officers Have Right to License or Permit

                            Section 5.                   By–Laws May Be Repealed

                            Section 6.                   Enforcement; General Fines Set; Non–Criminal Disposition

                            Section 7.                   Limitation on Actions

                            Section 8.                   Definitions

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CHAPTER TWO                                 TOWN MEETINGS

                            Section 1.                   Annual Town Meeting Date Set

                            Section 2.                   Annual Town Meeting Business Session Date Set

                            Section 3.                   Hours for Polls Set

                            Section 3A.               Inclusion of Articles on Town Meeting Warrants

                            Section 4.                   Notice of Town Meetings to be Posted and Published

                            Section 5.                   Report of Finance Committee to be Distributed, to Include Collective Bargaining Agreements

                            Section 6.                   Notice of Town Meetings to be Mailed to Representatives; Notice of Special Town Meeting to be Given to Finance Committee

                            Section 7.                   Notice of Adjournment to be Posted

                            Section 8.                   Town Clerk to Keep Verbatim Record of Town Meeting

                            Section 9.                   Town Meeting Quorum

                            Section 10.                 Articles to be Taken Up in Order

                            Section 11.                 Recommendation of Finance Committee to be Original Motion; Amendments to be in Writing; Procedure for Omnibus Adoption Defined

                            Section 12.                 Motions May Be Divided

                            Section 13.                 Precedence of Motions

                            Section 14.                 Higher Money Amounts to be Voted First

                            Section 15.                 Spokesperson to Disclose Agency

                            Section 16.                 Voting to be by Voice; Standing Count if Voice Vote Doubted

                            Section 17.                 Roll Call May Be Requested

                            Section 18.                 Speaking More Than Once May Be Regulated

                            Section 19.                 Duration of Speaking May Be Limited

                            Section 20.                 Motion to Terminate or Limit Debate to Require Two–Thirds Vote

                            Section 21.                 Voters and Taxpayers Have Right to Speak

                            Section 22.                 Reconsideration of Vote Limited

                            Section 23.                 Reconsideration of Vote at Adjourned Meeting

                            Section 24.                 Committee Reports

                            Section 25.                 Town Meeting Not to be Dissolved Until All Articles Acted Upon

                            Section 26.                 Certain Appropriations to be Considered and Recommended

                            Section 27.                 Town Meeting to Open With Salute to Flag

                            Section 28.               Collective Bargaining Agreements to be Included in Report of Finance Committee

                            Section 29.                (Section moved and renumbered to section eleven of Chapter Three.)

                            Section 30.               Text of Acts for Acceptance to be Included in Report of Finance Committee

                            Section 31.               Committee on By–Laws Established; Duties Set

                            Section 32.                Two–Thirds Vote

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CHAPTER THREE                              BUDGET PREPARATION

                             Section 1.                   Finance Committee to be Appointed

                            Section 2.                   Term of Finance Committee Members

                            Section 3.                   Finance Committee to Keep Records

                            Section 4.                   Finance Committee Vacancies

                            Section 5.                   Town Meeting Articles to be Referred To Finance Committee for Hearing and Report

                            Section 6.                   Finance Committee to Make Recommendation on Appropriations

                            Section 7.                   Finance Committee to Have Access to Records

                            Section 8.                   Capital Expenditures Committee to File Report

                            Section 9.                   Capital Expenditures Committee

                            Section 10.                 Departments to Submit Budgets to Comptroller

                            Section 11.                 Parks and Playgrounds Construction Plans to be Submitted

                            Section 12.                  Budget Submission Dates

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CHAPTER FOUR                                FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

                            Section 1.                   Audit to be Made Annually

                            Section 2.                   Warrants for Payment to be Signed by Comptroller and Selectmen

                            Section 3.                   Bills to be Approved for Expenditure and Submitted to Comptroller

                            Section 4.                   Comptroller to Issue Warrants for Payments

                            Section 5.                   Treasurer to Honor All Proper Warrants

                            Section 6.                   Town Payroll May Be Paid Weekly

                            Section 7.                   Petty Cash Accounts Authorized

                            Section 8.                   All Payments to be By Check

                            Section 9.                   All Purchases to be By Purchase Order; Comptroller to Give Notice of Liabilities in Excess of Appropriation

                            Section 10.                 Comptroller to Distribute Statement of Expenditures and Balances

                            Section 11.                 Expenditures to be Made for Appropriated Purpose Only; Unexpended Balances to be Transferred to Excess and Deficiency Account

                            Section 12.                 Collector to Collect All Accounts Due Town

                            Section 12A.             Collector to Assess Interest on Overdue Accounts

                            Section 13.                 All Accounts Due to be Committed to Collector

                            Section 14.                 Collector to Recommend Suits for Collection of Accounts Due

                            Section 15.                  Collector to Pay Over to Treasurer Weekly; Departments to Pay Over Monthly

                            Section 16.                 Treasurer to Have Custody of Documents of Ownership

                            Section 17.                 (Section moved and renumbered to section nine of Chapter Three.)

                            Section 18.                 Fees to be Charged for Use of Town Property and Other Services

                            Section 19.                 Contributory Retirement System Payments to be Made Monthly

                            Section 20.                Licenses May Be Denied to Persons Delinquent in Payments

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CHAPTER FIVE                                  CONTRACTS BY TOWN OFFICERS

                            Section 1.                   Officers With Financial Interest Not to Participate in Contracts

                            Section 2.                   Contracts to be in Writing and Authorized by Board or Committee

                            Section 3.                   Performance Bond; Security Deposit

                            Section 4.                   Contracts Not to Extend More Than One Year Unless Authorized

                            Section 5.                   Competitive Bidding Required; Procedures Defined

                            Section 6.                   Disposal of Surplus Equipment; Bidding Procedure

                            Section 7.                   Borrowing for More Than Two Years to Require Bids

                            Section 8.                    Procedure Governing the Submission of Competitive Bids and Bid openings

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CHAPTER SIX                                    LEGAL AFFAIRS

                            Section 1.                   Selectmen to be Agents of Town

                            Section 2.                   Selectmen Authorized to Settle Claims

                            Section 3.                   Town Counsel to Report Status of Actions

                            Section 4.                   Selectmen to Appoint Town Counsel

                            Section 5.                   Duties of Town Counsel

                            Section 6.                   Treasurer to Execute Deeds and Transfers of Interests

                            Section 7.                   Qualifications for Town Counsel

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CHAPTER SEVEN                              TOWN RECORDS AND REPORTS

                            Section 1.                   Town Officers, Board and Committees to Keep Records Open to Public

                            Section 2.                   Comptroller to Keep Records of Insurance, Bonds and Indebtedness

                            Section 3.                   Departments to Report on Expenditures for Town Report

                            Section 4.                   (Section moved and renumbered to section ten of Chapter Three.)

                            Section 5.                   Report of Treasurer Detailed

                            Section 6.                   Report of Comptroller Detailed

                            Section 7.                   Selectmen to Publish Annual Town Report; Report Detailed

                            Section 8.                   By–Laws, Rules and Regulations, Assessors' Evaluations to be Printed

                            Section 9.                   Annual Town Report to be Available, Delivered to Town Representatives

                            Section 10.                 Annual Departmental Reports to be Filed with Town Clerk as Public Records

                            Section 11.                 Use and Dissemination of Information Regulated

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CHAPTER EIGHT                               TOWN ADMINISTRATOR

                            Section 1.                   Town Administrator Responsible for Town Offices

                            Section 2.                   Town Offices to be Leased Only by Vote of Town

                            Section 3.                   Police Officer May be Present for Licensed Use

                            Section 4.                   Town Buildings Not to be Used for Forbidden Purpose

                            Section 5.                   Administrator's Compensation

                            Section 6.                   Administrator's Qualifications

                            Section 7.                   Town Administrator to Negotiate Employee Contracts

                            Section 8.                   Town Vehicles to be Marked

                            Section 9.                   Town Administrator to Place All Insurance

                            Section 10.                 Town Administrator May Submit Articles for Town Meeting

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CHAPTER NINE                                  CEMETERIES

                           Section 1.                   Town Administrator to Have Charge of Cemeteries

                            Section 2.                   Free Public Burial to be Available; Cemetery to be Laid Out, Maintained

                            Section 3.                   Town Administrator Authorized to Sell Cemetery Lots

                            Section 4.                   Proceeds from Sale of Lots and Graves to be Reserved for Appropriation

                            Section 5.                   Gifts for Care of Cemeteries

                            Section 6.                   Gifts to be Deposited in Perpetual Care Fund

                            Section 7.                   Cemetery Advisory Committee Established

                           Section 8.                    Cemetery Committee Duties

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CHAPTER TEN                                   SHUTTLEWORTH FUND

                            Section 1.                   Fund to be Kept Separate; Principal Not to be Expended

                            Section 2.                   Fund Investment to be Approved by Commissioners of Trust Funds

                            Section 3.                   Treasurer to Have Custody of Fund; Commissioners of Trust Funds to Order Expenditures

  Section 4.                  Fund Transactions to be Done by Treasurer

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CHAPTER ELEVEN                            PUBLIC LIBRARY

                            Section 1.                   Board of Trustees to Have Custody of Library

                            Section 2.                   Regular and Special Meetings

                            Section 3.                   Trustees to Organize and Appoint Librarian

                            Section 4.                   Finance Committee to Keep Financial Records, Invest Library Fund and Approve Expenditures

                            Section 5.                   Treasurer to Have Custody of Library Funds

                            Section 6.                   Financial Transactions to be Done by Treasurer

                            Section 7.                   Board of Trustees to be Responsible for Staffing

                            Section 8.                   Trustees to Submit Annual Report

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CHAPTER TWELVE                          TOWN WAYS AND STREET LIGHTING

                            Section 1.                   Commissioner of Public Works to Administer Public Ways

                            Section 2.                   Notice of Intention to Lay Out or Change Public Way to be Published

                            Section 3.                   Excavations Within Public Way Regulated

                            Section 3A.               Construction of Access Ways onto Public Ways Regulated

                            Section 4.                   Vehicles Interfering With Snow Removal May Be Removed and Stored

                            Section 5–8               (None)

                            Section 9.                   Selectmen May Adopt Traffic and Parking Regulations

                            Section 10.                  Department of Public Works

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN                      POLICE REGULATIONS

                            Section 1.                   Second–Hand Businesses Regulated

                            Sections 2–6.            (None)

                            Section 7.                   Posting of Circulars on Public Ways and Private Premises Regulated

                            Section 8.                   Posting of Circulars on Vehicles Regulated

                            Section 9.                   Moving of Buildings on Public Ways Regulated

                            Section 10.                 Firecrackers, Discharge of Firearms Prohibited

                            Section 11.                 Indecent, Disorderly Conduct Prohibited on Public Ways

                            Section 12.                 (None)

                            Section 13.                 Defacing, Destroying Lawful Notice Prohibited

                            Section 14.                 Loitering on Stoops, Walls Prohibited

                            Section 15.                 Sledding on Pubic Ways and Places Regulated

                            Section 16.                 Dangerous Conduct on Public Ways Prohibited

                            Section 17.                 Placing Trash, Chemicals Upon Public Way Prohibited

                            Section 18.                 Indecent Exposure, Graffiti Prohibited

                            Section 19.                 Keeping of Swine Regulated

                            Section 20.                 Slaughter Houses, Piggeries Regulated

                            Section 21.                 Trash Collectors To Be Licensed; No Land To Be Filled With Rubble

                            Section 22.                 Parades, Performances in Public Ways Regulated

                            Section 23.                 Evading Taxi, Bus Fare Prohibited

                            Section 24.                 Trespassing, Peeping Toms Prohibited

                            Section 25.                 Bonfires in Public Ways Regulated

                            Section 26.                 Fires, Transport of Inflammable Materials on Public Ways Prohibited

                            Section 27.                 Gaming in Public Ways and Places Prohibited

                            Section 28.                 Willful Destruction of Public Property Prohibited

                            Section 29.                 Climbing Trees in Public Ways and Places Regulated

                            Section 30.                 Tampering with Public Drinking Fountain Prohibited

                            Section 31.                 Discharge of Firearms Regulated

                            Section 32.                 Soliciting Money in Public Ways, Door–to–Door Regulated

                            Section 33.                 Sales Booths in Public Ways and Places Regulated

                            Section 34.                 Riding Horse on Sidewalk Prohibited

                            Section 35.                 Possession of Toy Pistols on Public Ways Prohibited

                            Section 36.                 Obstruction of Passage on Public Ways Prohibited

                            Section 37.                 Throwing Snow on Cleared Way Prohibited

                            Section 38.                 Leakage of Liquids During Transport on Public Ways Prohibited

                            Section 39.                 Abandonment of Vehicles; Disposition of Non–Operating Vehicles

                            Section 40.                 Use of Motorized Recreational Vehicles Regulated

                            Section 41.                 Consuming Intoxicating Beverages Within Public Way or on Public Property Prohibited; Disorderly, Offensive Conduct Prohibited

                            Section 42.                 Retail Sale of Food and Alcoholic Beverages Regulated

                            Section 42A.             Hours of Retail Sales Regulated

                            Section 43.                 Security Alarm Systems Regulated; False Alarm Penalties

                            Section 44.                 Trespass upon Parks After Hours Prohibited

                            Section 45.                 (None)

                            Section 46.                 Retail Promotional Events Regulated

                            Section 47.                 Dumpsters Regulated

                            Section 48.                 (None)

                            Section 49.                 Restaurant Sewage Disposal Regulated

                            Section 50.                 Fines for Violations of Truck Ban

                            Section 51.                 Fire Lanes Established; Obstruction of Fire Lane Prohibited

                            Section 52.                 Handicapped Parking Areas Established; Misuse Prohibited

                            Section 53.                 Parking of Commercial Vehicles in Residential District Regulated

                            Section 54.                 Selling and Soliciting Money Upon or Abutting Public Ways Regulated

                            Section 55.                 No Liquor License To Be Held Where Sexual Conduct Permitted

                            Section 55A.             Visual Displays of Sexual Conduct Prohibited

                            Section 55B.              Violators of Laws Barred From Licensed Premises

                            Section 56.                 Sale of Imitation Handguns Regulated

                            Section 57.                 Operating Hours Under Licenses Regulated

                            Section 58.                 Sales of Novelties Prohibited

                            Section 59.                 (None)

                            Section 60.                 Strings of Lights

                            Section 61.                 Sound Equipment, Alarms Regulated

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN                      PERSONNEL, WAGE AND SALARY ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER FIFTEEN                            PLUMBING

                            Section 1.                  Administration

                            Section 2.                   Operations

                            Section 3.                   Rates

                            Section 4.                   Sewer Line Construction and Maintenance

                            Section 5.                   Assessment of User Charges

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN                          BUILDING CODE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN                    WIRING CODE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN                       ZONING BY–LAWS

CHAPTER NINETEEN                       (None)

CHAPTER TWENTY                          ENDICOTT ESTATE COMMISSION

                            Section 1.                   Estate to be Used by Residents for Recreation and Education

                            Section 2.                   Town Administrator to Have Responsibility for Estate

                            Section 3.                   Endicott Estate Commission Established

                            Section 4.                   Terms of Commissioners Set; Commission to Organize

                            Section 5.                   Commission to Make Rules and Regulations for Use of Estate

                            Section 6.                   Commission to Make Recommendations on Uses of Estate

                            Section 7                     Estate Manager

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CHAPTER TWENTY–ONE               YOUTH COMMISSION

                            Section 1.                   Youth Commission Established; Terms Set

                            Section 2.                   Duties of Commission

                            Section 3                    Commission to Appoint Staff

                            Section 4                    Administration

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CHAPTER TWENTY–TWO             COUNCIL ON AGING

                            Section 1.                   Council on aging Established; Terms Set

                            Section 2.                   Duties of Council

                            Section 3                    Council to Appoint Staff

                            Section 4                    Administration

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CHAPTER TWENTY–THREE        DOG CONTROL

                            Section 1.                   Duties of Dog Officer

                            Section 2.                   Disturbing the Peace

                            Section 3.                   Complaint of Annoyance; Investigation

                            Section 4.                   Licensing

                            Section 5.                   Restraint of Dogs

                            Section 6.                   Penalties

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CHAPTER TWENTY–FOUR           HISTORIC DISTRICTS

                            Section 1.                   Name

                            Section 2.                   Purpose

                            Section 3.                   Historic Districts Commission

                            Section 4.                   Commission Powers

                            Section 5.                   Historic Districts

                             Section 6.                  Severability

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CHAPTER TWENTY–FIVE              (None)

CHAPTER TWENTY–SIX                BUILDING, PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

                            Section 1.                   Establishment

                            Section 2.                   Term of Committee Members Set; Department Head to be Ex–Officio

                            Section 3.                   Committee to Survey Town Needs

                            Section 4.                   Committee to Determine Building Needs and Make Recommendation

                            Section 5.                   Committee to Supervise Authorized Work

                            Section 6                    Scope of Chapter Defined

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CHAPTER TWENTY–SEVEN          SIGN CODE

                            Section 1.                   Purpose

                            Section 2.                   Authority

                            Section 3.                   Applicability and Effect

                            Section 4.                   Definitions and Interpretation

                            Section 5.                   Administration

                            Section 6.                   General Regulations

                            Section 7.                   Permitted Signs and Standards, Design and Construction

                            Section 8.                   Nonconforming Signs and Signs Without Permits

                            Section 9.                   Violations

                            Section 10.                 Enforcement and Remedies

                            Section 11.                 Appeals

                            Section 12.                 Severability

                            Table 1                       Permitted Signs by Type and Zoning District

                            Table 2                       Sign Dimensions and Locations

                            Table 3                      Maximum Heights for Freestanding Signs

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CHAPTER TWENTY–EIGHT       WETLANDS PROTECTION

                            Section 1.                   Purpose

                            Section 2.                   Definitions

                            Section 3.                   Jurisdiction

                            Section 4.                   Exceptions

                            Section 5.                   Application for Permits and Requests for Determination

                            Section 6                    (None)

                            Section 7.                   Notice and Hearings

                            Section 8.                   Coordination with Other Boards

                            Section 9.                   Permits, Determinations and Conditions

                            Section 10.                 Regulations

                            Section 11.                 Security

                            Section 12.                 Enforcement

                            Section 13.                 Burden of Proof

                            Section 14.                 Appeals

                            Section 15.                 Relation to the Wetlands Protection Act

                            Section 16.                 Severability

                            Section 17                   Filing Fee Schedule for Permits for Work Within the Resource Areas or 100 Foot Buffer Zone to any Resource Area Protected by the Bylaw

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CHAPTER TWENTY–NINE              FEES RELATING TO THE CLERK

CHAPTER THIRTY                            OPEN SPACE PLANNING AND PROTECTION

CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE                 NUMBERING OF BUILDINGS

                            Section 1.                   Assigning Numbers For Buildings

                            Section 2.                   Assigning Numbers For Land

                            Section 3.                   Determination of Number

                            Section 4.                   Current Numbering

                            Section 5.                   Numbering Order

                            Section 6.                   Notice of Number Change

                            Section 7.                   Grace Period

                            Section 8.                   New Buildings

                            Section 9.                   Violation and Penalty

                            Section 10.                 Enforcement

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CHAPTER THIRTY–TWO               DEDHAM CIVIC PRIDE COMMITTEE

                            Section 1.              &nb