Congratulations on your Appointment or Election to a Board, Committee or Commission!
The Town of Bernardston relies on our elected and appointed officials for much of the Town’s important business. As a member of a public body, you must comply with state and local requirements.
This page will provide you with information and resources of the next steps you must take as a municipal official. Please contact the townclerk [at] townofbernardston.org (Town Clerk) to schedule a date and time for you to complete the requirements for accepting the position. This will include receipt of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and instructions for completing on-line Massachusetts Ethics Training prior to the Oath of Office.
Conflict of Interest
As a public employee in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to comply with the state conflict of interest law, MGL 268A. Compliance with this law helps ensure that public employees serve the public with integrity. To address this requirement, please complete the following online Conflict of Interest Law Training course within 30 days of this notice:
Click this Link to register and access the training course: https://massethicstraining.skillburst.com
You will be asked to self-register and for your agency, which will be the Town of Bernardston.
Make sure that you take the training and law review for Municipal Employees.
You are no longer required to provide a copy of your certificate of completion to the Town. Certificates of completion are available and stored on-line and your certificates will be available and stored online under your account at https://massethicstraining.skillburst.com.
More information can be found on the Mass.gov website.
Open Meeting Law
The Open Meeting Law specifies that all deliberations of a public body be conducted in a meeting open to the public and includes requirements for posting of meeting notices and agendas and how to generate and approve minutes. Within two weeks of your election or appointment or when you took the Oath of Office (whichever is later), you must complete a Certificate of Receipt of Open Meeting Law Materials. Please see the links below for materials and certificate. Please submit the certificate to the townclerk [at] townofbernardston.org (Town Clerk Office.)
Materials: Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Guide (PDF)
Receipt: Certificate of Receipt for Open Meeting Law Materials (PDF)
Open Meeting Law Resources
Open Meeting Law Website - MASS.gov
Open Meeting Law Guide and Educational Materials
Checklist for Posting a Meeting Notice
Checklist for Entering Into Executive Session
Checklist for Creating & Approving Meeting Minutes (PDF)