Editing Freetown, Massachusetts (section)

==Government and infrastructure==

===Town government===
[[Image:Freetown - Town Hall 1a.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Freetown Town Offices, Assonet]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Freetown Warrant FY2004.gif|150px|right|thumb|A page from the [[warrant (town meeting)|warrant]] for Freetown's 2004 [[Annual town meeting|Annual Town Meeting]].]] -->
Freetown is governed in the traditional [[New England]] style with a [[Board of Selectmen]] overseeing day-to-day operations of the town and at least one [[town meeting]] per year to handle all major decisions including, but not limited to, budgets, by-laws, and zoning.  In 2004, provisions for a [[Town Administrator]] were put in place, and in 2007, E. Winn Davis of [[Falmouth, Massachusetts|Falmouth]], [[Massachusetts]] was hired as the town's first administrator.  Mr. Davis announced his retirement in February 2009, and former [[Middleborough, Massachusetts|Middleborough]]  Town Manager John Healey was hired as the interim town administrator in March 2009.  He was replaced by former [[East Providence, Rhode Island|East Providence]] manager Richard Brown in January 2012, who left on June 30, 2014, with Mr. Healey returning on July 8.  
<ref>[http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20140623/News/406230312  New Bedford Standard Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The executive branch of town government is the Board of Selectmen, a popularly elected board made up of three members who are elected for terms of three years.  One selectman is up for re-election every year.  The current board is Trevor R. Matthews (2023), Jared Zager (2024) and Carlos Lopes (2025).

Selectmen currently serve terms of three years each, and those terms are staggered to ensure that only one member is up for re-election in any given year.  Through the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the number of Selectmen was not set in law, and therefore varied, sometimes greatly.  In 1988, Barbara Trainor became the first woman to hold the position of Selectman in Freetown, giving the town a record of 305 years of all-male leadership.  After her defeat in 1991, no woman was again elected to the board until 2006.

In 2005, attempts to expand the Board of Selectmen to five members failed.  Also failing in 2005 was an attempt to limit Selectmen to a total of two terms (or, six years).  Attempts to expand the board to five members have been frequent in recent years.

The legislative branch of town government is the town meeting, which in Freetown is an [[open town meeting]].

Various other officers, boards, committees, and commissions round out the variety of services provided to residents, including scattered municipal water, trash collection, fire, ambulance, police, education, recreation, voter registration, etc.

As of the [[Town meeting|Annual Town Meeting]] held on May 7, 2007, elections in Freetown are held on the first Monday in April.

====Seal====
[[File:Seal of Freetown, Massachusetts.gif|125px|right]]
The Seal of the Town of Freetown, Massachusetts is an official [[Seal (emblem)|device]] used on documents originating from the town as well as on municipal equipment and buildings. It was devised in 1890 by the [[chairman]] of the Board of Selectmen, [[colonel (United States)|Col.]] Silas P. Richmond.

Along the top of the seal are the words "Town of Freetown, Mass." in all [[capital letter]]s.  Before the T in "Town" and after the final S in "Mass." are [[Star polygon|star]]s.  Along the bottom of the seal are the words "Incorporated 1683" (also in capital letters).  The image of a [[kettle]] over a cooking [[fire]] is meant to invoke [[Ye Freemen's Purchase]], the agreement by which the lands now known as [[Assonet, Massachusetts|Assonet]] and [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] were purchased by the [[Great Britain|English]] settlers from the local [[Wampanoag people|Wampanoag]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]].

===County government===
Freetown is a part of [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol County]], [[Massachusetts]].  Where county governments in some states collect taxes or manage schools, these functions are carried out at the municipal level in Massachusetts.  However, some minimal county government does still exist; especially in the court system.

The [[County Commission|Bristol County Commission]]<ref name="County">[http://www.countyofbristol.net/ http://www.countyofbristol.net/] Official website of Bristol County, Mass.</ref> is made up of John T. Saunders ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]), Paul B. Kitchen (D-[[Fairhaven, Massachusetts|Fairhaven]]) and John R. Mitchell (D-[[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]]).  The current [[District Attorney]] for Bristol County is Thomas M. Quinn III (D-Fall River).  The [[sheriff]] of Bristol County is Paul Heroux ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-Attleboro).

===State government===
As a small town, Freetown is often divided and attached to neighboring cities and towns to form representative districts for the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]].<ref name="STATEELEC">[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/sec/ele/elecand/06_dem_dist.htm 2006 Democratic District and County Candidates] William Francis Galvin / Secretary of the Commonwealth / Elections Division.</ref>  These divisions are made along [[electoral precinct|precinct]] lines.  The representative for Precinct I, which is in the 6th Bristol District, is [[Carole Fiola]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]]).  The representative for Precincts II and III, which are in the 8th Bristol District, is Paul Schmid ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]).

The town as a whole is represented in the [[Massachusetts Senate]]<ref name="STATEELEC"/> by [[Michael Rodrigues (politician)|Michael J. Rodrigues]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]).  Freetown is a part of the 1st Bristol and Plymouth District.  Likewise, the town as a whole is represented on the [[Massachusetts Governor's Council|Governor's Council]] by Joseph Ferreira ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Somerset, Massachusetts|Somerset]]), councillor for the 1st District.

===Federal government===
Freetown is a part of Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District, and is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives]]<ref name="FEDELEC">[http://www.sec.state.ma.us/sec/ele/elecand/06_dem_fed.htm 2006 Democratic Federal and Statewide Candidates] William Francis Galvin / Secretary of the Commonwealth / Elections Division.</ref> by [[Jake Auchincloss]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]].  The town is also represented in the [[United States Senate]]<ref name="FEDELEC"/> by (Class II) Senator [[Ed Markey]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]]) and (Class I) Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]]-[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]).

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Freetown presidential election results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1970/year_to:1970/|title=Election Results}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third parties]]
! Total Votes
! Margin
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.10% ''2,483''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.78%''' ''2,906''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.12% ''117''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|5,506
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|7.68%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.26% ''2,035''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.71%''' ''2,649''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.03% ''248''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|4,932
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|12.45%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.60%''' ''2,318''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.08% ''2,247''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.31% ''108''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|4,673
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1.52%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.32%''' ''2,405''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.62% ''2,228''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.06% ''146''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|4,779
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3.70%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.26%''' ''2,454''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.64% ''1,938''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.10% ''49''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|4,441
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|11.62%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.86%''' ''2,297''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.97% ''1,428''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.17% ''245''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3,970
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|21.89%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.64%''' ''2,107''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|26.48% ''985''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|16.88% ''628''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3,720
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.16%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''38.60%''' ''1,584''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.88% ''1,062''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|35.53% ''1,458''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|4,104
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|3.07%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.90% ''1,600''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.16%''' ''1,853''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.95% ''33''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,486
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|7.26%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.24% ''1,193''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.39%''' ''1,836''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.36% ''11''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,040
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|21.15%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.18% ''968''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.13%''' ''1,508''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.69% ''532''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|3,008
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.95%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.51%''' ''1,333''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.64% ''935''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.86% ''91''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2,359
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|16.87%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.88% ''762''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.59%''' ''927''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.53% ''9''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,698
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|9.72%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.92%''' ''737''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.27% ''727''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.81% ''74''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1,538
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|0.65%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.49%''' ''907''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.44% ''477''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.07% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1,385
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.05%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.80% ''651''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.98%''' ''737''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.22% ''3''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,391
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|6.18%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|26.92% ''319''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.00%''' ''865''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.08% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1,185
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.08%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1952 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1952]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|26.26% ''261''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.44%''' ''730''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.30% ''3''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|994
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.18%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1948 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1948]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.98% ''229''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.34%''' ''475''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.68% ''12''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|716
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.36%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1944 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1944]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.33% ''240''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.09%''' ''455''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.57% ''4''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|699
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|30.76%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1940 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1940]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.88% ''268''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.86%''' ''477''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.27% ''2''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|747
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.98%
|}

===Infrastructure===
Typical of the town's nature, there are separate fire stations, post offices and libraries in Assonet & East Freetown.  The main police & fire department headquarters building is halfway between the two. The town hall, however, is in Assonet.

Freetown's fire department provides 24-hour ambulance service to the town, and coverage to surrounding communities such as [[Lakeville, Massachusetts|Lakeville]].  The town is situated between three major cities ([[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]], [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]], and [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]]), each with their own hospitals:
* [[Morton Hospital and Medical Center|Morton Hospital & Medical Center]] in Taunton;
* [[St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, Massachusetts|St. Anne's Hospital]] and [[Charlton Hospital]], both in Fall River; and
* [[St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford, Massachusetts|St. Luke's Hospital]] in New Bedford.

Mental health hospitals in the area include [[Taunton State Hospital]] and [[Bridgewater State Hospital]].

Freetown's state highways are patrolled by the Third (Dartmouth) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.

===Utilities===
Municipal water is provided in some portions of Assonet by the [[Fall River, Massachusetts|City of Fall River]], and in some parts of East Freetown by the [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|City of New Bedford]].  Both villages are billed by the Freetown Water Commission.  Sewer is not available in the town, except for a small portion of South Main Street that is serviced by a line running from Fall River for use by the [[Stop & Shop]] Supermarket Company's distribution center.

Electricity in Freetown is provided by [[Eversource Energy|Eversource]], cable television by [[Comcast]], and telephone service by [[Verizon]].