Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title VII Chapter 41
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 41, § 103 (2026)

Purchasing department; purchasing agent; duties and salaries

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 103. A city which accepts this section in the manner provided in the following section or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, or a town which accepts this section or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, may establish a purchasing department, to consist of a purchasing agent and such assistants as the city council or selectmen may determine. In cities the salaries of the purchasing agent and assistants shall be determined by the city council. In cities the agent and assistants shall be appointed by the mayor for such terms of office as may be prescribed by ordinance, and in towns they shall be appointed and may be removed by the selectmen. The purchasing agent shall purchase all supplies for the city or town and for every department thereof except in case of emergency. All purchases or contracts for purchases exceeding one thousand dollars in amount shall be based upon competition. A record shall be kept by the department of the prices paid for the supplies, and shall be open to the inspection of any citizen.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1925–1994 · leading case: Richard D. Kimball Co. v. City of Medford, 166 N.E.2d 708 (Mass. 1960).
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Richard D. Kimball Co. v. City of Medford, 166 N.E.2d 708 (Mass. 1960). “The ordinance was adopted pursuant to *731 G. L. c. 41, § 103, authorizing the establishment of a municipal purchasing department to “purchase all supplies” for the municipality.”
Lumarose Equip. Corp. v. City of Springfield, 446 N.E.2d 1087 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). “During the period September 15, 1971, through March 31, 1977, there were four separate contracts in writing between the parties concerning the use of the plaintiff s equipment which were signed by the mayor of the city as well as by its purchasing agent (G. L. c. 41, § 103, as…”
Moloney v. Selectmen of Milford, 149 N.E. 317 (Mass. 1925). “By G. L. c. 41, § 103, permission is granted to cities and towns to accept its terms requiring the establishment of a purchasing department; but by the following § 104 the city council with approval by the mayor may submit the acceptance of § 103 to the voters at an annual city…”
Shaw v. Bd. of Selectmen, 628 N.E.2d 1303 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “5) that adopted G. L. c. 41, § 103. This section states that a town which accepts it “may establish a purchasing department, to consist of a purchasing agent and such assistants as the .”
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