Authorizing the town of Natick to continue the employment of Police Chief James Hicks beyond the age of 65
Summary
This bill is a local special act that authorizes the Town of Natick to keep Police Chief James Hicks in office beyond the usual age-65 service limit. It allows him to continue serving as police chief until age 67, his retirement date, or earlier removal by the Select Board, whichever comes first, so long as he remains mentally and physically capable of performing the job. The bill also permits the Select Board, at the town’s expense, to require annual medical examinations to confirm his fitness for duty.
The measure further addresses retirement and pension treatment under chapter 32 of the General Laws. It states that no additional retirement deductions will be taken from Hicks’s regular compensation for service after age 65, and that when he retires for superannuation, his allowance will be calculated as though he had retired at age 65. In effect, the bill preserves his retirement benefit while allowing him to remain employed for up to two additional years.
Impact
The bill creates a narrow exception to state law for one municipal official in Natick by overriding any conflicting general or special law on maximum age requirements for continued service. It affects the town’s authority over its police chief, the Select Board’s oversight powers, and the application of state retirement law under chapter 32 by preserving pension treatment despite continued employment past age 65. The practical impact is limited to James Hicks and the Town of Natick, but it sets a local precedent for age-limit waivers through special legislation.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill is largely procedural and locally supported rather than controversial. It was filed as a petition by Representative David Paul Linsky with local approval received, indicating backing from the town for the requested exception. No committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of opposition in the available record, and the bill appears to have been presented as a straightforward accommodation for an incumbent police chief.
Contention
The main policy issue is the exception to the age-65 limit for public service, which may raise questions about age-based employment rules, fitness standards, and pension treatment. Any concern would likely center on whether the town should be allowed to extend the service of a single official beyond the statutory age threshold and whether doing so should preserve retirement benefits as if retirement had occurred at 65. The bill addresses those concerns by requiring continued physical and mental capability and allowing annual examinations at the town’s expense.