Section 7. Surveyors of highways and road commissioners shall remove whatever obstructs the public ways within their respective towns or districts, or endangers, hinders or incommodes persons traveling thereon; and shall forthwith cause snow to be removed or trodden down so as to make such ways reasonably safe and convenient. If a town neglects to vote a sufficient amount for the proper repair of ways therein, or does not otherwise effectually provide therefor, each surveyor, in his district, or the road commissioners, may employ persons to make such repairs, who shall be paid by the town; and towns may authorize their surveyors or road commissioners or any other person to enter into contracts for making or repairing the ways therein.
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