New Hampshire § 49-B-2 - Section 49-B:2 Scope of Authorization; Definitions.

§ 49-B-2. Section 49-B:2 Scope of Authorization; Definitions.

I. Any incorporated town or city, regardless of population, shall be entitled to exercise the home rule powers recognized by article 39, part first, of the New Hampshire constitution, and implemented through this chapter, to create a charter commission and to present to its voters by referendum a municipal charter, in which they may establish either a town or city government. II. If the proposed charter denominates the municipality as a town, the charter shall be prepared pursuant to RSA 49-D. III. If the proposed charter denominates the municipality as a city, the charter shall be prepared pursuant to RSA 49-C. IV. In this chapter: (a) "Elected body" means the mayor and board of aldermen, mayor and council, and city council in a city adopting a charter under RSA 49-C and a town council or representative town meeting in a town adopting a charter under RSA 49-D. (b) "Governing body" means the board of selectmen, the board of aldermen, or the council in a city or in a town with a town council. (c) "Legislative body" means a town meeting, representative town meeting, city or town council, mayor and council, and mayor and board of aldermen. (d) "Municipality" means a city or a town. (e) "Municipal officers" means the mayor and board of aldermen, mayor and council, and city council in a city, and board of selectmen and town council in a town. (f) "Municipal year" means the fiscal year of the municipality. (g) "Operating budget" means total appropriations, as determined by the department of revenue administration, exclusive of county and school taxes; principal and interest payments on bonds and notes; and amounts in satisfaction of court judgments. (h) "Revocation" means the repeal of an entire charter such that the resultant form of government is the form in existence immediately prior to the adoption of the charter being repealed.