Frequently Asked Questions

Council legislation can come about in many ways. The City's Administration can submit legislation to the Council, and any Councilmember can bring forth their own or citizen initiated legislation.

Each month, the council agenda is available for viewing on the City Council webpage as well as the City Calendar, and hard copies are also available in the Office of the City Clerk (during business hours). All measures to be taken up on each agenda are also posted under Council Bills so you can see the full text of legislation and follow along with the meeting. You can also view past agendas and minutes, and past bills on the website as well.

• The Office of the City Clerk receives the submitted legislation and all items are all time stamped, recorded, and added as items on the next agenda.
• Every agenda has an internal deadline (8 calendar days prior to meeting), anything submitted to the Office of the City Clerk after the deadline is considered a late file and shall either be approved or denied by the Council President.
• The agenda is prepared and distributed to all councilors with all of the orders, administrative orders, appointments, and any other items to be discussed.
• The agenda is posted in accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law which states all meetings must be posted at least 48 business hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the City Council's page or in the Office of the City Clerk.

All bills have bill numbers. As you look at the agendas, you'll see that each agenda item starts with a bill numbers and then includes a summary. You can find all bills that are on the agenda under Council Bills where you will see the full text of legislation.

• Order - Most bills that go before the Council are orders, which allows (or disallows) something to happen. That could be accepting a grant or donation, transfer City funds, authorize an easement, etc.
• Ordinance - Some bills are for a new City ordinance, or to amend a current City ordinance. For example, the City Council in 2019 approved a new ordinance to ban thin-film plastic bags from retailers within City limits. You can see all municipal ordinances here.
• Appointment - The Mayor appoints people to boards, commissions and committees, which all go before City Council for approval. The Mayor also appoints Department Heads, who also go before City Council.
• Resolution - Occasionally the City Council adopts a resolution, with is a non-binding expression of the Council's values or position on an issue.

Most bills must go through a first reading and a second reading before being voted on. A first reading is only a reading; no public comment is made, no discussion is had and no votes are taken. During a first reading, the council will refer the item to various subcommittees and City boards (Finance, Ordinance, and others) for a recommendation which is taken into consideration at the second reading. At the second reading, the bill is set for discussion and open for public comment at the meeting. Once the comment period is closed and discussion is complete, the bill will be voted on.

Appointments, resolutions, proclamations, licenses and executive orders do not have second readings / public hearings.

Ordinances, appropriations, loan authorizations, and anything financial related gets a second reading / public hearing.

Order of Every Meeting

At every regular meeting of the City Council, the order of business remains the same.

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Act on Minutes
5. Mayoral Appointments
6. Licenses and Permits
7. Correspondence
   1. President/Vice President Communications
   2. Communication from Mayor, other Elected Officials, Boards and Commissions
   3. Council Communications, Announcements and Committee Reports
   4. Department Presentations
   5. Review of Old/Outstanding Business
8. Public Comment
9. Council Response to Public Comment
10. Second Readings
    1. Public Hearings
11. First Readings (new business)
12. Adjournment

Yes, there are times during the Council meetings in which residents can make a public comment. There is designated time for public comment during the meeting in which residents have three minutes to voice concerns or opinions about anything city related. The Council then has the opportunity to respond to the public comment if they so wish. There is also time during each public hearing when residents can speak for 3 minutes, but this comment must pertain to the specific public hearing. Anyone speaking must follow the rules of decorum, the Council President has the right to terminate someone's public comment if they are in violation. Public comment will be included in the minutes for the meeting,