Report Submitted On Changes to Charter

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

After months of working, the Ordinance Review Committee has completed its report regarding the revisions to the Town’s charter and ordinances. The next step is to have the Town Council vote on the revisions at its next meeting on Aug. 2.

The ordinances will be voted on by the Town Council because of the way the local election schedule is for the year. The Ordinance Review Committee is assembled every five years to review the charter and ordinances.

“We had a lot of good input from the town manager on what works and doesn’t work,” Boncore said. “The goal is to have a more effective government.”

Boncore said he was impressed with the input from the department heads and the citizens who came to the meetings.

“There was a good cross section of input,” Boncore said.

Review of charter and ordinances has to be conducted every five years. The committee held public outreach events such as a public forum, public meetings and hearings twice a month. The first meeting was held May 1, 2015.

On Nov. 3, 2015 four ballot questions appeared on the Town election ballot and were passed overwhelmingly by the voters. This vote put into motion the changes to the charter and the ordinances.

The first revision regards the town council and the council president. It asks that none of these employees receive an increase in their salary unless it has been adopted before the last day of June in the second year following a town election and it provides that such salary is to take effect upon the organization of the Town government following one of the next two municipal elections. None of the members or president shall be considered employees for the purpose of Chapter 32B of the general laws,

The second revision is a change in language and the use of the term “Abandonment”. Any elected council member shall be considered to have abandoned their office if they no longer meet the eligibility requirements and/or failed to attend more than half the regularly scheduled meetings.

The third revision addresses the town manager’s powers and duties and wording changes. The fourth revision addresses publication in newspapers or another manner when it comes to the publication of legal notices.

There are also several recommended changes to various sections of the town code/ordinances. The schedule of fees, MIS fees, business licenses and regulations, cab fees and license fees, and the keeping of fowl and bees. There is also a recommended change regarding calling for a state of emergency and who has the power. There are suggested changes regarding funerals, definition of false alarms and some detailed wording changes.

Members of the Ordinance Review Committee include Chair Joseph Boncore (now state senator); vice chair Heather Engman, Esq.; Karin Chavis, citizens financial advisory committee; Jason Deeb, loan officer; Mike Power, Esq.; Tom Reilly, former selectman; David Stasio, Planning Board; Paul Varone, Pre. 1 Councilor; and Carla Vitale, town clerk.