Section 12. If four or more persons are the proprietors and rightful occupants of a private way or bridge, and three of them make application in writing to a clerk of the district court of the district or the clerk of the city or town wherein the private way or bridge is located or to a justice of the peace to call a proprietors' meeting, the clerk or justice may issue his warrant therefor, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The warrant shall be posted in a public place of the town in which such way or bridge is situated, seven days at least before the time appointed for the meeting. The proprietors and occupants so assembled shall choose a clerk and surveyor, who shall be sworn. They may determine the manner of calling future meetings, what repairs of the way or bridge are necessary and the proportion of money and of labor and materials to be furnished by each proprietor and occupant for such repairs. The surveyor shall have the same powers with respect to such way or bridge as are exercised by surveyors of highways.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 84 - Repair of Ways and Bridges
Section 1 - Repair of Highways and Town Ways at Expense of Towns
Section 2 - Repair of Bridge by Two or More Towns; Repair of Drawbridge
Section 3 - Enforcement of Order for Repair
Section 4 - Warrants Against Delinquent Towns
Section 5a - Removal of Snow or Ice; Equipment and Employees
Section 6 - Sanding of Tarred Ways
Section 7 - Duties of Surveyors of Highways and Road Commissioners
Section 7a - Notice of Repair, Construction or Reconstruction of Road or Highway
Section 8 - Fences, Gates or Bars to Prevent Spread of Disease; Removal
Section 9 - Ditches by Side of Ways
Section 10 - Entry Upon Land to Secure and Protect Public Way; Damages
Section 11 - State Aid for Keeping Highway Open in Winter
Section 11a - Maintenance of Highways Constructed or Improved in Whole or in Part by County
Section 13 - Refusal or Neglect of Proprietor or Occupant to Comply With Vote
Section 14 - Financing Repairs
Section 15 - Personal Injuries or Property Damage From Defective Ways
Section 16 - Damage Caused by Excessive Load
Section 17 - Injury or Damage Caused by Snow or Ice
Section 18 - Notice of Injury; Contents; Limitation of Action
Section 19 - Service of Notice
Section 20 - Omissions in Notice; Notice of Insufficiency
Section 21 - Notice to Owner of Private Property
Section 22 - Neglect to Repair Way; Penalty
Section 24 - Damage From Defects in Dedicated Ways
Section 25 - Repairs Made on Way Within Six Years of Injury
Section 26 - Liability of Abutting Lot Owner
Section 27 - Excavations Abutting Public Way; Liability of Owners
Section 27a - Erection of Barriers at Excavations Abutting Public Ways; Duty of Owner; Penalty