Vacancies in the board of assessors or of selectmen constituted in accordance with the provisions of the three preceding sections, may be filled in the manner provided by law for filling other vacancies in such boards, and the person chosen to fill a vacancy shall hold office during the unexpired term of the member whose place he fills. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 67.

The acceptance of chapter 255 of the statutes of the year 1878 or of this and the four preceding sections, may be revoked by a town at any subsequent annual meeting, and thereupon the same shall cease to be operative in such town; but such revocation shall not affect the term of office of selectmen or assessors previously chosen. Sts., c. 27, § 68.

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.

Pub.

A town which has accepted the provisions of chapter 186 of the acts of the year 1877, or of sections 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73, of chapter 27 of the Public Statutes, and which has not revoked such acceptance, or which shall at an annual meeting accept the provisions of this and the four following sections, may at such annual meeting or at any subsequent annual meeting elect by ballot three, five, seven, or nine overseers of the poor in the manner and for the terms respectively provided in section 64 for electing a like number of selectmen; and the persons so chosen shall

constitute the board of overseers of the poor in such town. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 69, amended by St. 1883, c. 203, § 2.

The members of such boards of overseers shall hold office until others are elected and qualified in their stead; vacancies may be filled by a new choice at a legal meeting, and the person chosen to fill a vacancy shall hold office during the unexpired term, and until another is chosen and qualified in his stead. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 70.

Such boards shall annually, within seven days after the annual town meeting, meet and choose a chairman and a secretary, which last named officer may be from their own number or otherwise. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 71.

They shall cause books to be kept, wherein shall be entered in a neat and methodical style, and so arranged as to be readily referred to upon said books, the information required by law in regard to all needy persons aided under their direction, and all further information as to every case of relief given, asked for, or refused, the preservation of which may be of importance to their towns or to the Commonwealth, stating the amount and kind of aid given, and the reasons for giving such aid or refusing the same. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 72.

The acceptance of chapter 186 of the statutes of the year 1887, and of this and the four preceding sections, may be revoked by any town

at any subsequent annual meeting thereof, and thereupon the same shall cease to be operative in such town. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 73.

ROAD COMMISSIONERS.

A town which has accepted the provisions of chapter 158 of the statutes of the year 1871, or of this and the three following sections, and which has not revoked such acceptance, may choose by ballot three persons, who shall constitute its board of road commissioners, one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years from the date of the annual meeting at which they are chosen ; or, if chosen at a meeting other than the annual meeting, then for one, two, and three years respectively from the date of the annual meeting next preceding said election and until their successors are chosen and qualified; and at every subsequent annual meeting such town shall choose one member of said board, to serve for three years; but such acceptance may at any annual meeting thereafter be revoked, and said board abolished. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 74.

Said road commissioners, in matters concerning streets, ways, bridges, monuments at the termini and angles of roads, guide-posts, sidewalks, shadetrees, sewers, and drains, shall exclusively have the powers and be subject to the duties, liabilities, and penalties of selectmen and surveyors of high

ways, and shall have all the powers and privileges conferred upon selectmen in section 17 of chapter 53 in relation to removing buildings in public streets and highways. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 75.

They shall be sworn, and shall receive such compensation for their services as the town may determine. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 76.

Vacancies in a board of road commissioners shall be filled by the selectmen, and a person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold his office until another is chosen at the next annual meeting and qualified in his stead. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 76.

At the annual meeting every town (except as is otherwise provided in the fourteen preceding sections) shall choose from the inhabitants thereof the following town officers, who shall serve during the year, and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead:

A town-clerk, who, if present, shall be forthwith sworn, either by the moderator or a justice of the peace;

Three, five, seven, or nine selectmen ;

Three or more assessors, and if the town deems it expedient, three or more assistant assessors; Three or more overseers of the poor;

A town treasurer;

One or more surveyors of highways;

Constables, who shall also be collectors of taxes unless other persons are specially chosen collectors;

Field drivers;

Two or more fence viewers, and

All other usual town officers. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 78.

The selectmen shall be assessors of taxes and overseers of the poor in towns where other persons are not specially chosen to those offices, and when acting as assessors they shall take the oath required of assessors. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 101.

Towns are required to elect: One or more auditors, who shall not hold any other town office. St. 1888, c. 221. Two or more cullers of staves and hoops in every maritime place from which staves are usually exported. Pub. Sts., c. 60, § 41. One or more measurers of wood and bark. Towns may by vote, fixing the number to be chosen, delegate the appointment of such measurers to the selectmen. Pub. Sts., c. 60, § 72.

COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND.

A town establishing a sinking fund under the provisions of this chapter shall, at the time of establishing the same, elect by ballot three or six commissioners of its sinking funds; and a city establishing such a fund shall elect such commissioners by a concurrent vote of both branches of the city council. One-third of the number shall be elected for one, two, and three years respectively; and annually thereafter there shall be elected, for a term of three years, a