Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 43 - City Charters
Section 53 - Certificate of Appointment

Section 53. In making his appointments the mayor shall sign and file with the city clerk a certificate in the following form:
Certificate of Appointment
I appoint (name of appointee) to the position of (name of office), and I certify that in my opinion he is a recognized expert in the work which will devolve upon him, and that I make the appointment solely in the interest of the city.
Mayor.
or in the following form, as the case may be:
Certificate of Appointment
I appoint (name of appointee) to the position of (name of office), and I certify that in my opinion he is a person specially fitted by education, training or experience to perform the duties of said office, and that I make the appointment solely in the interest of the city.
Mayor.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts

Chapter 43 - City Charters

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Authorization to Adopt a Plan of Government

Section 3 - Effect of Chapter on Legislative Powers of Cities

Section 4 - Effect of Adoption of Governmental Plan on Ordinances, Etc.

Section 5 - Existing Organization to Continue Until Superseded

Section 6 - Wards, Number and Boundaries to Continue Until Changed Under Law

Section 7 - Adoption of Plan; Filing of Petition Calling for Vote

Section 8 - Adoption of Plan; Form of Petition

Section 9 - Plan A, B, C, D or E; Proceeding After Filing of Petition; Submission to Electorate

Section 9b - Plan F; Proceeding After Filing of Petition; Submission to Electorate

Section 10 - Number of Plans Considered at Election; Procedure on Subsequent Petitions

Section 11 - Majority Vote Required for Adoption of Plan; Effect of Adoption; Election of Officers

Section 12 - Petition for Other Plans After Unfavorable Election

Section 13 - Duration of Plan Adopted

Section 14 - Officials to Expedite Transition to Adopted Plan

Section 15 - Dates of Elections Under Adopted Plan; Municipal Year Defined

Section 16 - Primaries and Caucuses Prohibited

Section 16a - Plan F; Primaries and Caucuses

Section 17 - Oath of Office; Time of Taking

Section 17a - Salaries of Mayor, City Manager and Council

Section 17b - Compensation of Mayor and City Council

Section 17c - Four-Year Term for Mayors in Certain Cities; Acceptance by Election; Application of Section

Section 17d - Two-Year Term for Mayors in Cities Under Sec. 17c; Acceptance by Election

Section 18 - City Council; Powers and Duties

Section 19 - Duties of Mayor or City Manager; Attendance at Council Meetings; Disclosure of Information

Section 20 - Passage of Ordinances

Section 21 - Amendments and Repeals of Ordinances

Section 22 - Ordinances, etc.; Passage at One Session

Section 23 - Ordinances; Publication

Section 24 - Adoption of Plan; Effect on Obligations, Taxes and Legal Acts

Section 25 - Employees in Mayor's Office Not Subject to Civil Service

Section 26 - Vacancies in Office of Mayor or City Council; Acting Mayor

Section 27 - Interest in Public Contracts by Public Employees Prohibited; Penalty

Section 29 - Public Contracts; Form; Required Approvals; Bond, Etc.

Section 30 - Purchase or Taking of Land

Section 31 - School Committee; Membership; Tenure

Section 32 - Superintendent of Schools; Election; Appointment of Other School Employees.

Section 33 - School Committee; Powers and Duties

Section 34 - Location and Erection of Schools; Approvals Required

Section 35 - Open and Public Meetings; Yea and Nay Vote

Section 36 - School Committee; Filling Vacancies

Section 37 - Initiative Petition; Measure Defined

Section 38 - Initiative Petitions; Validity of Signatures; Objections

Section 39 - Initiative Petition; Passage and Submission to Electorate

Section 40 - Proceedings if Initiative Petition Not Properly Signed

Section 41 - Contents of Ballot for Proposed Measure

Section 42 - Referendum Petition; Effect on Final Passage

Section 43 - Submission of Proposed Measure to Voters

Section 44 - Measures With Conflicting Provisions

Section 44a - Preliminary Elections; Contents of Notices

Section 44b - Inclusion of Name on Ballot; Prerequisites

Section 44c - Candidates for Nomination; Qualifications; Statement and Petition

Section 44d - Official Ballot; Posting Lists of Candidates; Drawing for Position on Ballot

Section 44e - Counting Ballots; Canvass of Returns

Section 44f - Determination of Candidates for Election

Section 44g - Nomination of Candidates; Conditions Making Preliminary Election Unnecessary

Section 44h - Acceptance of Sections Dealing With Preliminary Elections; Submission to Electorate

Section 45 - Provisions Applicable to Adoption of Any Governmental Plan

Section 46 - Plan A

Section 47 - Effective Date of Plan

Section 48 - Mayor as Chief Executive Officer; Term of Office

Section 49 - Party Designations on Ballots Prohibited

Section 50 - City Council; Number; Election; Tenure

Section 50a - City Council; Filling Vacancies In

Section 52 - Appointments of Employees by Mayor Without Confirmation

Section 53 - Certificate of Appointment

Section 54 - Removal of Officials; Exceptions

Section 55 - Approval or Veto by Mayor of Orders, Ordinances, etc.; Overriding Veto

Section 56 - Plan B

Section 57 - Operative Date of Plan

Section 58 - Mayor as Chief Executive Officer; Election; Tenure

Section 59 - City Council; Number; Election; Tenure

Section 59a - Vacancies in Office of Mayor and Council; Procedure for Filling

Section 60 - Appointments by Mayor Subject to Confirmation; Exceptions

Section 61 - Removals

Section 63 - Approval and Veto Offer of Mayor

Section 64 - Plan C

Section 65 - Effective Date of Plan Adopted

Section 66 - City Council; Powers and Duties

Section 67 - Membership; Duties of Individual Commissioners; Tenure

Section 68 - Terms of Office

Section 69 - Organization; Oath of Office

Section 70 - Meetings

Section 71 - Quorum; Open and Public Meetings; Duties of City Clerk; Method of Voting

Section 72 - Powers and Duties

Section 73 - Methods of Action; Itemization of Appropriations

Section 74 - Mayor; Status; Powers and Duties; Acting Mayor

Section 75 - Distribution of Executive Powers; Determination of Policies

Section 76 - Appointment and Removal of Department Heads

Section 77 - Department Records; Publication of Reports

Section 79 - Plan D; Effective Date

Section 80 - Definitions

Section 81 - Management and Control of City Government by Mayor and Council

Section 82 - City Council, Membership; Election; Terms

Section 83 - City Council; Powers and Duties; Organization; Oaths of Office

Section 84 - Meetings of City Council

Section 85 - City Council; Quorum; Duties of City Clerk; Records; Procedure

Section 86 - Mayor; Powers and Duties

Section 88 - Vacancies

Section 89 - City Manager; Qualifications; Tenure; Compensation; Removal

Section 90 - Powers and Duties of City Manager

Section 91 - City Officers and Employees

Section 92 - Interference With City Manager by Council Forbidden; Penalty

Section 92a - Solicitation of Contributions for Political Parties, etc., by Employees Forbidden; Penalty

Section 93 - Plan E; Effective Upon Adoption

Section 94 - Definitions

Section 95 - Governing Power of City Council, Etc.

Section 96 - City Council; Membership; Tenure

Section 97 - City Council; Powers and Duties; Organization

Section 98 - Meetings of City Council

Section 99 - Quorum; Presiding Officer; Duties of City Clerk; Voting Procedure

Section 100 - Mayor; Official Head of City; Powers and Duties; Vice-Chairman

Section 102 - Vacancies in Elective Bodies

Section 103 - City Manager; Appointment; Qualifications; Compensation; Removal

Section 104 - Powers, Rights and Duties of City Manager

Section 105 - City Officers and Employees; Appointments and Removals

Section 106 - Officers and Employees; Regulations; Penalty for Violations

Section 107 - Interference With City Manager by Council Forbidden; Penalty

Section 108 - Solicitation of Political Contributions by Employees; Penalties

Section 109 - Regular Municipal Election; Date

Section 110 - Candidates; Statement and Petition

Section 111 - Nomination Papers

Section 112 - Ballots; Form and Contents

Section 113 - Preparing Ballots, etc.; Procedure

Section 114 - Counting of Ballots; Procedure

Section 116 - General Election Laws; Applicability

Section 117 - Plan F

Section 118 - Operative Date

Section 119 - Mayor; Election; Term

Section 120 - Legislative Powers; Election and Term of City Council

Section 121 - Vacancies

Section 122 - Appointments

Section 123 - Certificate of Appointment

Section 124 - Removal of Heads of Departments

Section 125 - Ordinances and Resolutions; Approval by Mayor

Section 126 - Regular Municipal Election; Date; Nomination Papers

Section 127 - General Election Laws; Applicability

Section 128 - City Defined

Section 129 - Referendum; Questions Submitted; Petition

Section 130 - Election Results; Superseding of City Charter Provisions; Election of Organization Members; Commencement of Term

Section 131 - Division of City Into Districts; Time; Ordinance; District Description; Redistricting

Section 132 - Failure of Timely Districting

Section 133 - Date of Municipal Elections; Municipal Year

Section 134 - Residence of District Members