Anderson v. Board of Selectmen of Wrentham

We are asked in this case to interpret G. L. c. 32B, § 7A, a local option statute which permits municipalities to contribute more than 50% of their employees’ group insurance premiums. 3 In particular, we must de cide whether § 7A empowered the Wrentham town meeting to set unilaterally the town’s rate of contribution toward the group health and life insurance provided to the town’s employees. We conclude that § 7A did not authorize the town meeting’s action and reverse a Superior Court judgment that made a contrary determination.

The background of the case is as follows. On December 14, 1987,…