The text
Footnotes:
--- (7) --- Cross reference— Highway superintendent appointed, § 17-36 et seq.; office of building official established, § 5-3; personnel, Ch. 13; police, Ch. 14; police chief, § 14-56 et seq.
DIVISION 1. - GENERALLY#
Sec. 2-136. - Handling of town funds.#
Any town official, employee, or other person receiving any money in payment of fees or for any other purpose in behalf of the town shall turn such money over to the town treasurer as soon as is practicable, but in any event such funds shall be turned over to the town treasurer within thirty (30) days after receipt.
(Ch. 27, 4-6-70)
Sec. 2-137. - Director of emergency management.#
(a)
There shall be established, under the direction of the town manager, an emergency management agency (EMA) which shall consist of a director appointed by the town manager under such terms and conditions as the town manager shall determine.
(b)
The duties of the director of emergency management shall include:
(1)
Planning and coordinating the town's response to any occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, public utilities interruption, injury, illness, loss of property or life or in any situation in which a state of emergency has been declared that includes the Town of Hopkinton.
(2)
Preparing a comprehensive operations plan for the utilization of town facilities, equipment and personnel during any emergency;
(3)
Equipping, maintaining and staffing an emergency operations center on an as-needed basis;
(4)
Coordinating, facilitating and assisting the town council president, as needed, in declaring/establishing a local state of emergency;
(5)
Assisting the town manager during any actual or declared emergency;
(6)
Acting as liaison for the town with federal and state EMA officials;
(7)
Performing any other duties or functions assigned by the town manager or directed by ordinance of the town council.
(Ch. 223, 3-19-12)
Sec. 2-138. - Veteran's services agent.#
(a)
There shall be established a temporary position within the Hopkinton town government to be referred to as the veteran's services agent.
(b)
The veteran's services agent shall be appointed by majority vote of the town council for an initial two (2) year term. The veteran's services agent shall report to the town council periodically during his or her term and, at the conclusion of the initial two (2) year term, the town council may vote to make the veteran's services agent a permanent position and/or to make any other changes to this section as deemed appropriate.
(c)
The veteran's services agent shall serve in a volunteer capacity without compensation.
(d)
In appointing the veteran's services agent, preference shall be given to applicants that have served in the United States Armed Forces and/or that have relevant experience in the administration of veteran's services and benefits.
(e)
The duties of the veteran's services agent shall include:
(1)
Meeting with veterans, spouses, and their dependents in an office or home setting to assist with determining eligibility for or qualifications for financial, medical, and administrative assistance.
(2)
Assisting veterans, spouses, and their dependents with completing and submitting applications for benefits or services to any appropriate state or federal agencies or not-for-profit organizations.
(3)
Working with veterans, spouses, and their dependents to identify alternative resources that may be available such as may be provided by any state or federal government programs or not-for-profit agencies.
(4)
Communicating and coordinating his or her activities, as necessary, with the town manager and town clerk.
(5)
Working with veterans in the community and providing assistance to find housing, furniture, food, transportation, and other needs as necessary and serve as a liaison to any government or not-for-profit agency providing such services and assistance.
(6)
Maintaining knowledge of pertinent state and federal regulations, benefits programs, and other programs or services that may be available to veterans in the community and keeping abreast of changes in any such regulations, programs, or services.
(7)
Coordinating, planning and/or participating in community activities to honor veterans such as Memorial Day and/or Veteran's Day activities.
(8)
Ensuring compliance with any and all applicable state and federal laws related to the confidentiality of persons' medical and/or personal information.
(9)
Reporting periodically to the town council about the activities of the veteran's services agent and providing recommendations to the town council about the nature of this position and any appropriate amendments to this section.
(Ch. 287, 3-20-23; Ch. 290, 7-3-23)
Secs. 2-139—2-150. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 2. - INDEMNIFICATION#
Footnotes:
--- (8) --- Cross reference— Personnel, Ch. 13; police, Ch. 14.
State Law reference— Authority to indemnify, G.L. 1956, § 45-15-16.
Sec. 2-151. - Indemnity of municipal officials, employees.#
The town council may, on a case-by-case basis, indemnify any public employee, elected official, member of a board, agency or commission appointed by the town council, or by any other person exercising appointing authority delegated to him or her by the town council, whether or not such employee, official or member is paid, from all loss, cost, expense and damage, including legal fees and court costs, if any, arising out of any claim, action, compromise, settlement or judgment by reason of any alleged error or misstatement or act or omission, or neglect or violation of the rights of any person under any federal or state law, including misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance or any act, omission or neglect contrary to any federal or state law which imposes personal liability on any such employee, official or member, if such employee, official or member for any misstatement, error, act, omission, or neglect if the same resulted from willful, wanton or malicious conduct on the part of such employee, official or member.
(Ch. 84, § 1, 11-1-86)
Sec. 2-152. - Legal counsel.#
Legal counsel will be provided at the expense of the town and/or the reimbursement for attorney's fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the conduct of such defense, including payment of the judgment thereon.
(Ch. 84, § 2, 11-1-86)
Sec. 2-153. - Establishment of a fund.#
The town council may at its discretion utilize funds appropriated from time to time by the financial town meeting to defer the costs incurred by the town in carrying out the purposes of this division. Any amounts contained in such fund at the end of any fiscal year will be carried forward to subsequent fiscal years without any reappropriation except as otherwise may be specifically provided by this section.
(Ch. 84, § 3, 11-1-86)
Sec. 2-154. - School employees.#
The town council may extend the indemnity provided for by this division, on a case-by-case basis, to members of the school committee and any other person employed by the school department of the town and any person appointed to any board, agency or commission by such school committee, whether or not such person is compensated for his or her services.
(Ch. 84, § 4, 11-1-86)
Sec. 2-155. - Effective date.#
This article shall take effect upon its passage and shall be retroactive to any claim made on and after February 1, 1986, notwithstanding the fact that such claim is based upon an alleged misstatement, error, act, omission or neglect occurring prior to such date.
(Ch. 84, § 5, 11-1-86)