close
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Templeton 3-5-1951 (Art. VII of the Bylaw Compilation). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-17-2020 ATM by Art. 9]
The Select Board (Board) shall be agents of the Town to institute, prosecute and defend any and all claims, actions and proceedings to which the Town is a party or in which the interests of the Town are or may be involved.
The Board may at its discretion compromise or settle any claim or suit to which the Town is a party, which does not require the payment by the Town of an amount in excess of $10,000. No settlement of a claim or suit obligating the Town in an amount in excess of $10,000 shall be made, except as authorized by law, without the consent of the Town Meeting.
The Board in its annual report shall state what actions have been brought against and on behalf of the Town, what cases have been compromised or settled, and the current standing of all suits at law involving the Town or any of its interests.
[Amended 8-31-1978]
A. 
The Board shall annually in June appoint a Town Counsel, who is a member of the bar in good standing, to serve for the term of one year from the first day of July following and until his successor is appointed and enters upon the performance of his duties. It shall likewise fill any vacancies in said office for the unexpired term, and may employ special counsel to assist the Town Counsel whenever, in its judgment, necessity therefor arises.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Town Counsel to conduct the prosecution, defense or compromise of claims, actions and proceedings to which the Town is a party, and the prosecution of actions or proceedings by or on behalf of any Town officer, board or committee as such; to conduct the defense of any action or proceedings brought against any Town officer, board or committee as such when the Board, having determined that any right or interests of the Town are or may be involved therein, shall so request; to conduct proceedings brought by or against the Assessors before the Appellate Tax Board; to assist in the prosecution of complaints for violation of any bylaw of the Town, when requested so to do by the board or officer enforcing the same, to examine and report upon titles to all land to be acquired by the Town; to prepare or approve contracts, bonds, deeds, and other legal instruments in which the Town is a party or in which any right or interest of the Town is involved; to appear at any and all hearings on behalf of the Town whenever his services may be required; and generally to advise and act for the Town officers, boards and committees upon and in legal matters touching the duties of their respective offices.