Town of Bolton, 32 MLC 20, 25, MUP-01-3254 (June 27, 2005) (citing Town of Dennis, 29 MLC 79, 83, MUP-01-2976 (October 10, 2002)); City of Peabody, 25 MLC at 193.

Ct. 926 (1992); Town of Dennis, 26 MLC 203, 205, MUP-1868 (April 21, 2000). A challenge to the timely filing of a charge is an affirmative defense. City of Boston, 26 MLC 177, 181, MUP-1431 (March 23, 2000); Town of Wayland, 5 MLC 1738, 1741, MUP-2294 (March 29, 1979).

Town of Dennis, 12 MLC 1027, 1030, MUP-5247 (1985). For example, school committees have the exclusive prerogative to determine certain matters of educational policy without bargaining. Lowell School Committee, 26 MLC 111, 113, MUP-1775 (January 28, 2000).

Town of Dennis, 12 MLC 1027, 1030, MUP-5247 (June 21, 1985). The Law exempts from collective bargaining certain types of managerial decisions that must, as a matter of policy, be reserved to the public employers discretion. See IBPO, Local 346 v.

Town of Dennis, 3 MLC 1559, 1576-77 (Department analyzed procedure where firefighters were asked to submit more information on their time slips as potential de minimis alteration in working conditions). Generally, the Board will not find an unlawful change to employees' terms and conditions of employment where the action complained of is only a slight departure from what is normally required.

Town of Dennis, 3 MLC 1559, 1576-77 (Department analyzed procedure where firefighters were asked to submit more information on their time slips as potential de minimis alteration in working conditions). Generally, the Board will not find an unlawful change to employees' terms and conditions of employment where the action complained of is only a slight departure from what is normally required.

Town of Dennis, 28 MLC 297, 3030 n.14, MUP-2634 (April 3, 2002). Thus, | dismiss this portion of the charge.

Ct. 926 (1992): Town of Dennis, 26 MLC 203 (2000). The sixmonth period of limitations begins to run when the adversely affected party receives actual or constructive notice of the conduct alleged to be an unfair labor practice. Town of Lenox, 29 MLC 51, 52 (2002). A significant portion of Syeds presentation at the investigation concerned conduct that occurred six months before the date he filed the charge.

(September 5, 2002) (citing Town of Dennis, 26 MLC 202, 205, MUP-1868 (April 21, 2000)); Felton v. Labor Relations Commission, 33 Mass, App. Ct. 926, 938 (1992). The six months period of limitations begins to run when the adversely affected party receives actual or constrictive notice of the conduct alleged to be an unfair labor practice. Wakefield School Committee, 27 MLC 9, 10, MUP-2241 (August 16, 2000).

Town of 2 The Union did not present any evidence of negative impact at the investigation. 3 Dismissal (contd) MUP-20-7813 Bolton, 32 MLC 20, 25, MUP-01-3254 (June 27, 2005) (citing Town of Dennis, 29 MLC 79, 83, MUP-01-2976 (October 10, 2002); City of Peabody, 25 MLC 191, 193, MUP-9861 (May 21, 1999)). Here, the Union failed to meet its burden to demonstrate that the Town independently violated Section 10(a)(1) of the Law.