HomeMy Public PortalAbout1-11-2012 statement sideris On November 9, 2011 I announced that I would be reviewing the procedures leading to
the adoption of the amendments to the Town's Charter. As you know, while the Charter
passed overwhelmingly, there was a delay in presenting the Charter amendments to the
voters. The Town did not meet the requirement that the amendments be mailed out two
weeks in advance of the election.
It is important that the voters in Watertown have confidence in the process that led to the
Charter amendments. This highly public process began on March 16, 2010 with the first
meeting of the Charter Commission. From the very beginning, we reached out to the
public with notices and announcements so that everyone would know that the
Commission was meeting on this important issue. A total of twenty-four public meetings
of the Commission were held, with the final meeting on July 19, 2011. At those
meetings, each proposed Charter amendment was fully discussed and debated. The
minutes of each meeting, including the discussion of each amendment, were posted on
the Town's website and available for all to see. A great deal of information was provided
so that voters could understand not only what the Commission was doing, but what was
required to amend the Charter.
I have personally reviewed the minutes of each Charter Commission meeting and the
videotapes of those meetings. I have looked at the postings to ensure that everyone was
aware that the meetings were taking place. I have also made note of the numerous
announcements of those meetings made at Town Council meetings. As a result of the
extensive public process, all Watertown voters were given the chance to observe and
participate in the process. In the end, no substantial changes to the Charter amendments
were requested.
After review and approval by the Massachusetts Attorney General's office and the
Department of Housing and Community Development, the Charter amendments were
posted on the Town's website on October 26, 2011 for all to see and review. The
amendments were also available at the offices of the Town Clerk and the Town Council.
Following the extensive public review process, including ample opportunity for
discussion and debate, the Charter amendments were overwhelmingly passed by the
Watertown voters on November 8th. I am proud of the work of the Charter Commission
and stand behind the process we undertook to bring the Charter amendments forward.
Did an error occur? Yes. But it must be remembered that the Charter review occurs only
every ten years. This is a complex process, with a significant number of legal
requirements. I am confident that the voters were provided, through the process
described above, with the information they needed to vote on the amendments as
approved on November 81h. I am working with the Town Attorney to develop a full list
of the legal requirements and to define the roles of Town officials so that an outline can
be prepared to guide future Charter Commissions and Town officials in the Charter
amendment process. This outline will be posted on the Town's website and maintained
in the offices of the Town Council and the Town Clerk.
In conclusion, I am satisfied that informed voters cast their votes on November 81h, 2011
to overwhelmingly approve Watertown's amended Charter, and that the citizens of
Watertown should be confident that the amended Charter has been approved and is now
enacted.