Council Considers Charter Changes Council Considers Charter Changes

By Adam Swift

The Town Council tackled two of the more potentially divisive recommendations of the 13 made by the Ordinance Review Committee at a public hearing last week.

The two recommendations concern the composition and length of term for town councilors, and providing a recall process for elected officials.

It is likely the council will make the final decision on whether the charter changes are brought before the town’s voters in the next month or so. The council can amend the recommendations, or vote not to bring them to a public vote, but the voters have the final say on any changes to the town charter.

Among councilors, there was a mix of opinions on the two proposed changes discussed last week.

If it goes through as recommended, the charter change pertaining to the composition of the Town Council would result in a major overhaul for town government.

The recommendations include paring the total number of councilors from nine to seven, with six at-large councilors and one council president. Currently, there are nine councilors, with six precinct councilors, two at-large members, and a president.

The proposed change would also change the term of councilors from four to two years in an effort to increase participation in town government. Conversely, the term for council president would jump from two to four years.

“I think the thought process behind a lot of the thinking was to increase participation, because the vast majority of races over the years have been unopposed,” said Council President James Letterie.

Precinct 6 Councilor Stephen Ruggeiro, who is on the Ordinance Review Committee and chairs the council’s rules and ordinances subcommittee, said he voted against the changes to the composition of the council. He said cutting the number of councilors would alter the ratio of councilors to residents and constituents in the town.

Ruggeiro was also one of several councilors that expressed concerns that moving to a fully at-large council could lead to underrepresentation for  some neighborhoods.

Precinct 5 Councilor Joseph Aiello said he likes the current relationship between a councilor and their precinct.

“I just think it would negatively affect the relationship between the district councilors and the constituents,” said Aiello. “I don’t think this achieves what was the spirit and the intent of the ideas.”

Councilor-at-Large Rob DeMarco said that ultimately, it should be up to the voters to decide who represents them.

Precinct 2 Councilor John Munson said he was not in favor of going to an all at-large council, but said he was in favor of dropping the length of the council term to two years as a way to entice more people to run for office. Several councilors noted that while a shorter term may get some more people to run, a longer term is helpful so that new councilors can get up to speed on municipal government without having to worry about running for reelection soon after taking office.

Letterie said the council could make adjustments to the Ordinance Review Committee recommendations. He said the council could consider going to seven members, but still use a precinct, rather than an at-large system.

“Do we think nine is the right number?” Letterie asked. “And if it is different than nine, what should the composition be?”

Several councilors said they had issues with the recall provision, noting there should be a high threshold to recall elected officials

Ruggerio said the best way for elected officials to stay accountable to the public is through the election process.

“I’ve always been in favor of a recall (provision) … but the bar has to be set high,” said DeMarco. “Four percent of registered voters is too low of a bar.”

DeMarco said a recall provision could work if it was necessary to gather signatures totalling 50 percent of the turnout in the previous election.

“I think the standard should be incredibly high,” said Letterie. “I don’t think the provision itself would be unwarranted. Hopefully, it will be something that we never have to use.”

Letterie said he would still like there to be an opportunity for the public to be heard on the proposed charter changes, with the goal of the council voting in February on whether to bring them before voters at the ballot box.