EVERETT CHARTER COMMISSION
EVERETT CHARTER COMMISSION PROPOSES
HISTORIC
CHANGES FOR BALLOT QUESTION IN NOVEMBER
In accordance with Massachusetts General
Law, Chapter 43 B, the proposed charter final
report of Everett Charter Commission will
be submitted to the voters on the Municipal
Election, November 8, 2011.
Key charter recommendations include replacing
the current two-tiered 25-person bicameral
Everett City Council with a streamlined unicameral
single-branch 11-member city council, adopting
a four-year term for mayor in order to maximize
efficiency and effectiveness for the entire
city administration and a provision to recall
any elected official.
Other proposals include requiring a public
hearing for the budget process and public
comment at city council meetings. The proposed
charter prohibits members of the city council
or school committee from holding any other
position with the city and makes them ineligible
to participate in the city’s group health
insurance program. Any elected official convicted
of a felony would immediately be removed from
office.
If the voters approve the new charter with
a YES vote, parts of it will take effect at
the preliminary election of September 2013.
The final report is available at the Parlin
Library
The proposed charter with a summary of the
ballot question will be distributed to every
household with at least one registered voter
no later than two weeks prior to the November
8, 2011 municipal election.
PROPOSED CHARTER FINAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
City Council
The existing 2-branch city council would be
replaced with a one-branch city council. The
new city council would be composed of 11members,
all elected citywide. The City Council would
consist of 6 ward councilors and 5 at-large
councilors. There would be 1 ward councilor
per ward and they would be required to be
domiciled in the ward they represent. Councilors
would serve 2-year terms. The city council
would have all the powers and duties of municipal
legislative bodies in Massachusetts, as defined
within the General Laws of the Commonwealth.
The city council would also have additional
powers and duties as contained in the charter
or by ordinance.
Mayor
The mayor would continue to carry out the
functions of the office of mayor, much as
it currently exists. All of the executive
powers of cities would continue to be vested
solely in the mayor. The mayor would continue
to have additional powers and duties as contained
in the charter or by ordinance. The mayor
would have a number of new responsibilities,
most notably in the area of city finances.
The term of the office of mayor would increase
from 2 to 4 years.
School Committee
The school committee would remain a 9 member
body, with all members elected citywide, just
as they are presently. The school committee
would continue to consist of 6 ward members
and 3 at-large members. There would be 1 ward
member per ward and they would be required
to be domiciled in the ward they represent.
Members would continue to serve 2-year terms.
The school committee would continue to have
all the powers conferred on school committees
by Massachusetts General Laws, as well as
additional duties and powers as contained
in the charter or by ordinance. Except in
the case of an emergency, the school committee
would not meet on the same day as a regular
city council meeting. The mayor would continue
to have a right to attend school committee
meetings to participate in discussions, to
make motions and to exercise every other right
of a regular member but not including the
right to vote.
Prohibitions
Members of the city council and the school
committee would not be allowed to hold any
other city office or city employment. Members
of the city council and school committee would
no longer be eligible to participate in the
city’s group health and life insurance
programs. No elected official would be able
to hold a compensated city position for one
year following the conclusion of his or her
elected service. Any elected official finally
convicted of a felony would immediately be
removed from office and would be disqualified
from serving in any other elective or appointed
office or position under the city.
Organization of City Operations
The mayor would be authorized to submit reorganization
plans of City departments, boards and commissions
to the city council. The city council could
approve or reject the mayor’s proposals
but would not have the authority to amend
them. There would be merit principles, which
would require the mayor to hire individuals
that are especially fitted by training and
experience for city positions.
City Finances
The mayor would be required, at least quarterly
and in writing, to keep the city council fully
informed of the financial condition of the
city. The mayor would be required to call
a joint meeting of the city council and the
school committee to review the fiscal condition
of the city before the start of each year’s
budget process. The budget process would become
more open and transparent. The annual proposed
operating budget would include a complete
fiscal plan of all city funds, activities
and agencies, including revenues and expenditures.
A capital improvement plan would be updated
annually by the mayor and submitted to the
city council for approval, prior to the operating
budget. The capital improvement plan would
be required to contain 5-year projections,
including projected costs. The city council,
not the mayor, would have control over the
city's annual independent, outside audit.
Elections and Filling of Vacant Seats
As is currently the case, a preliminary election
will be held for all elected positions, if
so needed. The process of filling vacancies
on the city council and the school committee
would be modified. Preference would be given
to candidates who ran in the prior election
but did not win a seat, as long as they received
a vote for the seat on 20% of the ballots
cast in that prior election. The filling of
a vacancy in the office of mayor would be
modified to reflect the change to a 4-year
term.
Voter Participation Provisions
There would be more provisions for voters
to directly participate in the decisions of
city government. All regular meetings of the
city council would need to provide for a period
of public comment. Public hearings would be
required before the city council could act
on the city's annual capital improvement plan
and annual operating budget. There would be
provisions to allow voters to petition the
city council or the school committee to put
an item on their agendas; to initiate a referendum
to allow voters to reverse certain measures
adopted by the city council or the school
committee; to initiate petitions to compel
the city council or the school committee to
adopt measures; and to recall any elected
official. However, there would also be safeguards
against frivolous petitions.
Charter and Ordinance Review
The new charter would call for periodic reviews
of the charter and a re-codification of the
city's ordinances.
Time of Taking Effect
The proposed charter will be on the ballot
on the November 2011 municipal election. If
the voters approve the new charter with a
YES vote, part of it will begin to take effect
at the preliminary election of September 2013.
There will be transitional provisions allowing
for a smooth transition to the new government
E-MAIL
FINAL
CHARTER REPORT
AGENDA
4/27/2011
MINUTES
2-9-2011
2-24-2011
01/31/2011
12-8-2010
10-27-2010
10-13-2010
9-22-2010
9-22-2010
(Budget)
9-8-2010
6-9-2010
5-26-2010
5-12-2010
4-28-2010
4-14-2010
3-24-2010
3-10-2010
2-24-2010
1-27-2010
1-13-2010
12-16-2009
12-9-2009
11-30-2009
11-16-2009
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