Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


ARTICLE 11
Warrant Article Title:
HOME RULE LEGISLATION/JUSTIN BROWN
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to request and authorize the Select Board to file Home Rule Legislation so as to enable Justin Brown, a resident of the Town, to be eligible for appointment as a firefighter in the Town of Arlington notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 32; or take any action related thereto.
Requested by:
(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of Justin Brown and ten registered voters)
Discussion:
*This articles returns to the Warrant from the 2020 Annual Town Meeting. The Select Board unanimously supports Town resident Justin Brown’s request for special legislation to be permitted to sit for the fire fighter civil service exam in pursuit of a position as a firefighter in Arlington.  In brief, Civil Service Law (as applied in Arlington), does not ordinarily permit a candidate aged 32 or older to be appointed to the position of Firefighter.  While there may be circumstances in which the Town would not be inclined to permit a potential candidate to take the exam, the Board has historically supported affording the opportunity for each applicant on his or her own merits.  The exemption the Board urges Town Meeting to approve, only offers Mr. Brown only the opportunity to apply and be considered for appointment to the position of Firefighter.  Mr. Brown would still be required to pass all other Civil Service prerequisites including a physical fitness examination and is not guaranteed a position.  Therefore, the Board respectfully requests Town Meeting’s vote in the affirmative.
Vote Language:

That the Town does hereby request and authorize the Select Board to file Home Rule Legislation to provide substantially as follows:

“AN ACT TO PERMIT TOWN RESIDENT, JUSTIN BROWN, TO TAKE THE CIVIL SERVICE TEST FOR THE POSITION OF FIREFIGHTER IN THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON.

Section 1 Notwithstanding the provisions of any special or general law to the contrary including without limitation Chapter 31 of the General laws, the Civil Service law, Justin Brown, a resident of the Town of Arlington is authorized to take the civil Service examination for appointment to the position of Firefighter notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 32.  The authority under this act will expire on June 1, 2023.

 

Section 2 THIS ACT WILL TAKE EFFECT UPON ITS PASSAGE.”

 

(Mr. Brown is 39 years old.)

 

(5 – 0)

 

Select Board Report