''Municipal officers'', in the case of all cities, the city council with the approval of the mayor, and in the case of all towns, the board of selectmen with the approval of the town manager, if any. The municipal officers are hereby designated as the local governing body for purposes of any approval or action of such body required by federal legislation.
''Operating agency'', a housing authority or redevelopment authority.
''Redevelopment authority'', a public body politic and corporate created pursuant to section four or corresponding provisions of earlier laws.
''Relocation payments'', voluntary payments whether or not required by federal legislation made by an operating agency as reimbursement or compensation for the reasonable moving expenses necessarily incurred and any actual, direct loss of property, except good will or profit, suffered by individuals, families, business concerns and nonprofit organizations, resulting from displacement on or after August twelfth, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, if such displacement is reasonably required to carry out an urban renewal plan or because of the acquisition of property by an operating agency.
Such relocation payments shall not include reimbursement or compensation for any expenses or losses for which reimbursement or compensation would be otherwise made, nor shall any person have any right of action for relocation payments, except as provided by federal legislation or chapter seventy-nine A.
''Relocation project'', any work or undertaking for providing decent, safe and sanitary dwellings for persons or families displaced by any urban renewal project or other public improvement by the commonwealth or any city, town or other body politic and corporate of the commonwealth.