| Author |
 Topic  |
|
charm
Senior Member
264 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 07:48:42 AM
|
Charters under scrutiny
By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff | November 29, 2009
For the first time since it was incorporated as a city in 1892, Everett will have its charter reviewed. Newburyport’s review will be its first in 90 years.
Voters in both cities early this month approved the creation of nine-member charter commissions.
They are among several communities in the area that will be reviewing the efficiency of their governments.
Other communities in various stages of review include Amesbury, Methuen, Newburyport, and Saugus.
In Everett, the commission will comb through the entire document - a task that in the past has been repeatedly unsuccessful.
For approximately 16 months, Everett’s commission will review the 117-year-old document, which at times has been problematic for modern-day interpretations, said common councilor Peter A. Napolitano.
“There have been certain instances where something would occur and we’d go to the state for a ruling, and the state would turn around and tell us to refer to our charter, and the charter says nothing,’’ said Napolitano, a longtime advocate of a review process.
“The voters agree that after all this time we’re long overdue to take a look and see if we’re doing everything as best as we can. My hope is that [the review process] will be like eating an elephant. You know how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.’’
At issue is the bicameral form of government, which includes a seven-member Board of Aldermen and a 25-member Common Council.
Napolitano believes this setup hinders the city and he would like to see it changed. The goal is to present any recommended changes to the voters on the 2011 municipal ballot. The first public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16.
In Newburyport, the charter has not been reviewed since 1919, said commission chairman and School Committee member Steven P. Cole.
From what he can gather, the decision to review was not spurred by any particular issue, but he would like to have discussions about the two-year mayoral seat.
Before Mayor John F. Moak, Newburyport had five mayors in 10 years, Cole said.
“There’s some discussion whether it would be good to have a longer-term mayor,’’ Cole said. “My objective is to have as much public discussion as possible.’’
Newburyport City Councilor Ed C. Cameron, who is not a member of the commission but who led the way for a charter review, said there are many issues that can be looked at.
They include the possibility of switching to a city manager form of government; the structure and terms of the City Council; whether members of certain boards and commissions should be appointed instead of elected; and whether to include language for a voter-driven repeal process. Proposed changes would also be on the 2011 ballot.
“There are some who think things are fine the way they are,’’ Cameron said. “Some think we need to modernize a system that’s 90 years old.’’
Methuen voters also approved and elected a charter commission Nov. 3 to perform the first review in more than 27 years, said Pat Uliano, president of Citizens for Better Government, the group that led the ballot initiative.
Sixteen years ago voters approved a change in government from Town Meeting to mayor, Uliano said, adding that charter language was barely amended.
“So the charter was opened to that page where it said ‘Manager shall’ and changed to ‘Mayor shall,’ ’’ she said. “We really haven’t taken it apart by going page by page. We needed to do this.’’
Uliano said she hopes any changes will be before voters in 2011.
In Amesbury, residents could have voted on up to 62 proposed charter changes on Nov. 3, but will have to wait until next year. Mayor Thatcher W. Kezer III requested the delay because he realized he miscalculated the time frame required for state review of the proposed changes before they went on the ballot.
To avoid overwhelming voters, Kezer said he will recommend that the least urgent of the changes be excluded from the ballot. Whatever those are, he said, can be taken up in 2011.
Among the recommendations are to change the community’s name from “the city known as the town of Amesbury’’ to “Amesbury.’’
Kezer said he may still omit the charter commission’s recommendation to change the council’s two-year terms to four-year staggered terms, but that he would include the suggestion to change the mayor’s term from two to four years.
In Saugus, while voters rejected a measure on Nov. 3 that would have overhauled their form of government, there is still an appetite for charter changes.
A Special Town Meeting voted on Nov. 16 to create a nine-member panel to review the charter. A proposed change would have to appear in a warrant article at the Annual Town Meeting.
But change does not appear to be the word in Stoneham, where selectman R. Paul Rotondi is trying to collect about 3,000 signatures to allow the town to form a charter commission.
The signatures have to be in to the town clerk at least 60 days before April Town Election. Despite support from the selectmen, Rotondi said he has collected just 1,000 signatures since summer.
“It’s not going very well,’’ Rotondi said. “There’s no excitement around it. . . . Quite frankly I think they don’t want a mayor. They don’t want to be a city. They’re afraid that’s what we’re aiming for, and frankly that’s the farthest thing from my mind. I wouldn’t support that.’’
Rotondi said the charter has not been thoroughly reviewed in about 30 years.
“I think it has to be tweaked,’’ he said. “I think there are some things we can do that other towns do that would make us more efficient.’’
© Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
|
 |
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 08:49:02 AM
|
| Do we think that someones nose will be out of joint this morning? |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 8:18:25 PM
|
I was glad to see that Charter Commission had a tab on the E-Gov link, but I am unable to open the documents. Can anyone else open them?
You must be logged in to see this link.
|
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2009 : 9:15:47 PM
|
They opened fine for me as PDF documents.
|
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 9:27:52 PM
|
| Must be my laptop.....thanks. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 9:50:01 PM
|
Michael Matarazzo
From: everettcharter@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 10:02 AM
To: Michael Matarazzo
Cc: Pschlosberg@comcast.net; Everett , Charter; Lattanzi, Alfred; Sansone, Robert
Subject: The Everett Charter Commission has organized abd filing notice with city clerk
11/23/2009
To: Michael Matarazzo, Everett City Clerk
The Everett Charter Commission on November 16, 2009 passed the
following resolution:
Resolved: the commission shall file a notice of such organization with
the city clerk
The Everett Charter Commission has organized and has elected the
following officers:
Paul Schlosberg of 176 Bradford Street was elected Chairman
Robert Sansone of 12 Herbert Street was elected Vice-Chairman
Alfred Lattanzi of 57 Pierce Avenue was elected clerk
Please acknowledge the required filing of this notice of such
organization and receipt of this notification.
Thank
you. Paul
Schlosberg
You must be logged in to see this link.
" Send in the Clowns " |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 9:50:54 PM
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CHARTER COMMISSION WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Everett MA November 23, 2009..... The Everett Charter Commission will
hold its mandated Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at
7:00 PM in the Peter J. Mccarren Memorial Chambers on the third floor of
the Everett City Hall.
This hearing is held so that the public can voice their concerns for change in
the city charter or retention of the present structure in the city charter they
would like to see for Everett.
Comments will become part of the public record that will serve as one basis
to examine and analyze the city's current structure under the charter.
Written comments will be accepted and should be sent to:
Everett Charter Commission, Everett City Hall, 484 Broadway, c/o Room
10, Everett MA 02149.
Email comments will also be accepted, subject to verification.
The public may address questions or comments to:
<EverettCharter@comcast.net>.
The Charter Commission requires the public to include and submit their
name, address and a phone number to verify they are the authors. Their mail
and email will become part of the record for the Everett Charter Commission
proceedings.
########
Contact: Paul Schlosberg / Chairman, Everett Charter
Commission; 617.389.8787; 176 Bradford St., Everett MA 02149
" Send in the Clowns " |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 9:58:34 PM
|
After skimming through the charter (my opinion) would be for the commission to start at the very beginning and go through it systematically. Start at chapter 1 until the very end.
I hope they don't jump around and just focus on one issue. It's the entire charter that needs to be looked at and revisions made. That just makes more sense to me.
You must be logged in to see this link. |
|
|
|
Cruller DaVille
Senior Member
148 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 10:08:50 PM
|
I'm afraid that Charter Review is becoming a one dimensional entity. There are a multitude of items which should be discussed and changed. Changing the form of government from bicameral to unicameral is but one.
From what has been discussed in the papers, the blogs and in the streets, it appears that the only item receiving any interest in the Socialist Scholsberg Regime is "unichange" .
I personally would love to see some real discussion about financial reporting and transfers of our money. This spending without review or consequence bothers me terribly. I believe spending should be the responsibly of both the electorate and elected officials. Lets face it, Barbara Anderson had it right.... "our money NEEDS to be watched by US . We have all sat and watched during the last couple of years as millions have been spent with little or no discussion.
I can remember not to long ago when these very same people needlessly shut entities of government down rather then allow a properly requested (and above board) transfer. Now a days they would prefer for the "in" administration to do it behind their backs. That NEVER would have been allowed previously!!!!!!!! Make up your minds......this is hypocritical ....
I for one want answers!!!!! I think that we deserve the truth ALL the time; not just when particular councilors or aldermen aren't getting themselves or their families jobs and want to put the heat on.
I'm wondering whether the trickle of new blood will bring with it "accountability".
What do you think?
Just MY Humble Opinion.............
"Cruller DaHville"
 |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 10:23:39 PM
|
One can only hope the new blood will help! We'll see. January can't get here fast enough. I really don't know if there is enough new blood to make that much of a difference.
" Send in the Clowns " |
Edited by - massdee on 11/30/2009 10:25:11 PM |
|
|
|
Cruller DaVille
Senior Member
148 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 07:01:30 AM
|
From your lips to God's ears Massdee...........I'm quite certain a couple will try to make a difference; but the rest are so in debt that will never see them crawl out from under his rock.
Lets hope so.......
Just MY Humble Opinion...
"Cruller DaHville"
|
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 07:27:43 AM
|
I stopped for a few minutes last night to see how the Charter Review Committee meeting was going. There were only a handful of people there & I wasn't impressed. Eight of the nine members were in attendance. It looks like it's going to take awhile before they figure out what they're doing.
Paul Schlossberg tried very hard to run the meeting in the same way the BOA & CC run. I had the impression a few members thought the meetings would be less formal therefore aren't yet comfortable in that environment. I had a hard time following him because [I don't think] he's a very good speaker. He can't seem to get the words out without a lot of ums & ahs. I think he'd be better off if he writes down what he wants to say/ask & then reads it.
There was someone from the state there to provide information on how they should proceed. Her first recommendation was that they read some other charters and she gave them a list of cities that have their charters online so they can read them. Frankly, I would have expected that they had all done that long before now. She also recommended they don't try to fix the old charter but write a new one. I can't wait to see if they follow her advice.............
I wish I could have seen the whole meeting but I only had about a half hour to spare. Hopefully, I'll be able to attend more in the future from start to finish. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 08:36:20 AM
|
Do you think it is necessary for Paul to run these meetings with the same format as the city council meetings? A little less formality might be more productive.
Did anyone else attend? I am hoping to make some of these meetings.
" Send in the Clowns " |
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 7:39:48 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by massdee
Do you think it is necessary for Paul to run these meetings with the same format as the city council meetings? A little less formality might be more productive.
Did anyone else attend? I am hoping to make some of these meetings.
" Send in the Clowns "
Actually, I hadn't expected the meetings to be quite that formal but they definitely needed some ground rules to prevent it from becoming a free for all. It may have been easier to say we'll run this according to Robert's, Joe's, or Sam's Rules than to try to establish their own.
Peter Napolitano was there, Mr Kelly's wife and a couple of other people but I don't know who they were. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2009 : 9:45:28 PM
|
A little additional information that I picked up about last Monday's charter review meeting:
- The charter vote by the electorate will be an all or nothing proposition. The entire charter is voted on, no picking or chosing what you like or don't like. You either accept it all or reject it all.
- The charter commission's preliminary report will be due March 4, 2011; their final report will be due on May 4, 2011.
- The reports must be distributed to every house in the city where a registered voter lives. The most common way of doing that is to put it as an insert in a local paper. The charter commission is responsible for paying for the preliminary report; the city picks up the tab on the final report.
- The charter commission is only required to hold two public hearings, one within 45 days of being elected (scheduled for 12/16) and the other after their preliminary report is issued. They can hold more if they deem it necessary.
- Public comment to the committee will be limited to the public hearings and written comments. So, if you have something to say and you don't want to write it up, I'd encourage you to attend the upcoming public hearing.
- The next meeting (not the public hearing) of the commission will be held on December 9 @ 6:30 PM in Hearing Room B. The meeting for January, February ans March are scheduled for the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Charter Review
