G.L.c. 40, § 4A. Governmental units; joint operation of public activities; termination of agreement; “governmental unit” defined; financial safeguards.

Section 4A. The chief executive officer of a city or town, or a board, committee or officer otherwise authorized by law to execute a contract in the name of a governmental unit, as hereinafter defined, may enter on behalf of such unit into an agreement with one or more other governmental units to perform jointly or for such other unit or units any services, activities or undertakings which any of the contracting units is authorized by law to perform, if such agreement is authorized by the parties thereto, in a city by the city council with the approval of the mayor, and in a town or district by the town or district meeting; provided, however, that when such agreement involves the expenditure of funds for educational purposes accepted pursuant to section fifty-three A of chapter forty-four, or the expenditure of funds for establishing supplementary education centers and innovative educational programs, the agreement and its termination shall be authorized by the school committee. Any such agreement shall be for such maximum term, not exceeding twenty-five years, and shall establish such maximum financial liability of the parties, as may be specified in the authorizing votes of the parties thereto. A governmental unit, when duly authorized to do so in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to it, may raise money by any lawful means, including the incurring of debt for purposes for which it may legally incur debt, to meet its obligations under such agreement. Notwithstanding any provisions of law or charter to the contrary, no governmental unit shall be exempt from liability for its obligations under an agreement lawfully entered into in accordance with this section. The words “governmental unit” as used herein shall mean a city, town, a regional school district, a district as defined in section one A, regional planning commissions, however constituted, regional transit authorities established under the provisions of chapter one hundred and sixty- one B, a water and sewer commission established under the provisions of chapter forty N or of a special law, and counties.

G.L.c. 30B, § 1. Application of chapter.

Section 1. (a) This chapter shall apply to every contract for the procurement of supplies, services or real property and for disposing of supplies or real property by a governmental body as defined herein.

(b) This chapter shall not apply to: