[MassHistPres] Bank accounts for hist comm

[Chris Skelly]

I would agree that a separate non-profit organization is always the way to
go for local preservation fundraising.  It has always been my understanding
that a municipal board or commission may not have a financial account
managed outside of the municipal government.  Someone more knowledgeable
than me may want to correct me but I think this is the relevant law below.
MGL Chapter 41 Section 35: Bond of treasurer; duties

Section 35. Every town treasurer shall give bond annually for the faithful
performance of his duties in a form approved by the commissioner of revenue
and in such sum, not less than the amount established by said commissioner,
as shall be fixed by the selectmen or the mayor and aldermen, and if he
fails to give such bond within ten days after his election or appointment,
or if within ten days after the expiration of said bond or any renewal of
said bond he fails to file a renewal thereof, the selectmen or the mayor
and aldermen shall declare the office vacant and the vacancy shall be
filled in the manner prescribed by section forty or sixty-one A, as the
case may be. He shall receive and take charge of all money belonging to the
town, and pay over and account for the same according to the order of the
town or of its authorized officers. No other person shall pay any bill of
any department; provided, however, this provision shall not prohibit the
treasurer from paying such bill by the use of bank treasurer's or cashier's
check. He shall have the authority given to an auditor by section
fifty-one, and shall annually render a true account of all his receipts and
disbursements and a report of his official acts. The bond required herein
shall cover the duties of the treasurer with respect to trust funds and
funds of retirement systems which are in his custody by virtue of his
office, and any such funds, for the purposes of said bond, shall be deemed
to be public funds.
*Chris Skelly*
*Skelly Preservation Services*
Community Planning and Preservation
www.skellypreservationservices.com
ccskelly12 at gmail.com
*Community planning with the past, **present, and future in mind*
[image: image.png]


On Tue, Apr 28, 2026 at 7:32 AM Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres <> wrote:

> At one time Brookline also had such a friends group, partly funded by
> funds from book publications.  I don’t know how active it is now.
>
> Dennis De Witt
>
> On Apr 27, 2026, at 2:51 PM, augiedef--- via MassHistPres <
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>
> Hi Connie,
>
> I live in Brimfield. Several people in town, including a former Historical
> Commission member, created a non-profit Friends of Historic Brimfield (
> https://fohbrimfield.org) for the purpose of fundraising and supporting
> the Commission’s historical projects.
>
> Mike DeFalco
>
>
> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> *On Behalf Of *Connie
> Hellwig via MassHistPres
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 23, 2026 1:43 PM
> *To:* Masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Bank accounts for hist comm
>
> Hello everyone - Our Historical Commission would like to have an online
> fundraising platform to raise funds for our conservation efforts, i.e.,
> 19th century book conservation, antiques restoration, etc. Our financial
> director has told us we cannot have our own bank account or online
> fundraising via PayPal or gofundme, etc. Have any of you managed to obtain
> a bank account for your Historical Commission?
>
> Connie Hellwig
> Chairman
> Salisbury Historical Commission
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