HomeMy Public PortalAboutWhy Have A Charter PamphletWHAT IS A CHARTER?WHY HAVE A CHARTER?
Resolve ambiguities and conflicts
between and among town bylaws
and/or state laws. Town bylaws not
changed by Charter will stay in effect.
Memorialize current Brewster
practices, and consider best practices
not necessarily already set in bylaws.
Set clear lines of authority and
responsibilities.
Review and define powers of town
administrator, who is the chief
administrative officer of the town.
Review and define powers of elected
and appointed boards.
Coordinate operations of various
departments.
Recommended by both the 2016
Brewster Government Study report
and the 2019 Massachusetts Dept. of
Revenue report.
Attend or watch Charter
Committee meetings:
• Usually held two Fridays each
month at 9 a.m. in Room A.
• Check town calendar at: https://
brewster-ma.gov/calendar3
Attend upcoming PUBLIC
OUTREACH events.
Invite a Charter Committee
member to meet with your
organization:
Charlie Sumner, Cindy Bingham,
Colette Williams, Karen Whitney,
Peter Lombardi, Richart Koch,
William Meehan
(email kwhitney@brewster-ma.gov).
A Charter is the governing document
for form, structure, and organization
of the town.
A Charter gives LOCAL control as to
how the town operates, serving as
the CONSTITUTION of a town.
A Charter supersedes local bylaws
and in many instances state law.
MA’s “HOME RULE” procedure
authorizes towns to create a Charter
by way of either:
• Charter Commission (elected as
initiated by petition of registered
voters) OR
• Charter Committee (appointed as
initiated by the Select Board).
In Brewster, a Charter Committee was
appointed in April 2019 to undertake
an analysis of the structure and
powers of town government and
to make a recommendation on a
Charter to the Select Board.
WAYS TO BE INVOLVED
REPRESENTATIVE CHAPTERS NEXT STEPSCOMMITTEE PROGRESS
Continue to fact-find and interview
as-needed to support preparation of
Charter Frameworks.
Work with Town Counsel to develop
First Draft Town Charter based on
Chapter Frameworks.
Solicit public comment on First Draft
Town Charter.
Analyze public comment and propose
any new revisions.
Conduct ongoing public outreach.
Provide update(s) to Select Board.
Finalize Charter for presentation to
Select Board.
Potential inclusion of Charter on
warrant for Spring 2020 Town Meeting.
* MAJORITY VOTE needed to approve the Charter.* Changes thereafter to an adopted Charter require 2/3 VOTE at Town Meeting.
An approved Charter is sent to the
State Legislature for final approval and
adoption.
Interviewed and received feedback from elected
officials, town employees, boards, commissions,
and committees including to-date:
• Select Board, Assistant Town Administrators, Police
Chief, Fire Chief, Constable,Finance Committee,
Board of Assessors, Finance Director, Treasurer/
Collector, Deputy Assessor, Planning Board, Town
Planner, Board of Health, Health Director, Recreation
Commission, Recreation Director, Old King’s Highway
Historic District Committee, Library Director, Library
Board of Directors.
• Former Brewster Government Study Committee and
Brewster Vision Advisory Committee.
Interviewed several members of the MA Municipal
Management Association who work in towns with
Charters, including representatives from their
Form of Government Committee.
Reviewed Town Charters from various MA towns.
Reviewed findings from the 2016 Brewster
Government Study Report, 2018 Vision Report,
and 2019 Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue Report.
Analyzing fact-findings to identify
• What aspects of our government should remain as
status quo
• What issues need clarifying
• What new issues should be addressed as requested
by boards, commissions, committees, employees,
and citizens
• What issues require further input.
Preparing Chapter Frameworks to include
fact-findings to-date.
Since starting to meet in June 2019, the Charter Committee has:
1. POWERS OF THE TOWN
2. TOWN MEETING AND ELECTIONS (INCLUDING RECALL)
3. SELECT BOARD
4. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
5. TOWN BOARDS
6. DEPARTMENTS
7. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
8. TOWN BY-LAWS
9. CHARTER REVISION
10. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
11. SEVERABILITY