HomeMy Public PortalAboutCRC Charter Amendment Suggestions - John GannonTO: Charter Review Committee Colleagues
FROM: John Gannon, Town Councilor At -Large
DATE: April 18, 2021
RE: Charter Amendment Suggestions
PROPOSED CHANGE 1:
ARTICLE 1: INCORPORATION; SHORT TITLE; POWERS; DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1-7. DEFINITIONS.
(g) Local Newspaper - The words "local newspaper" shall mean a newspaper of
general circulation within Watertown, with either a weekly or daily circulation.
Any information required to be published in a local newspaper shall also be posted
on the town website.
Recommended change:- delete the paragraph in its entirety and insert in its place
the following:
(g) Local Newspaper — The words "local newspaper" shall mean a newspaper or
electronic or other media of general circulation within Watertown, with either a
weekly or daily circulation. Any information required to be published in a local
newspaper shall also be posted in the town website.
PROPOSED CHANGE 2:
ARTICLE 2. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
SECTION 2.1. COMPOSITION; TERM OF OFFICE.
(a) Composition - There shall be a town council of nine members which shall
exercise the legislative powers of the town. Four of these members, to be known as
councillors -at -large, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters at
large. Four of these members, to be known as district councillors, shall be
nominated and elected by and from the voters of each district, one such district
councillor to be elected from each of the four council districts into which the town
is divided, in accordance with section 7-6. The ninth member of the town council
shall be a council president, elected as provided in section 2-2.
Recommended changes:-
- Delete the word "four" in the second sentence and insert in its place the
following:- "five"
- Delete the last sentence in its entirety.
PROPOSED CHANGE 3:
SECTION 2-2. TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT
(a) Election and Term — A council president shall be nominated and elected by and
from the voters at large at each biennial election to serve for a term of two years,
beginning on the first business day of January followuing the election and until a
successor is qualified.
Recommended change:- Beginning on the first business day of January in each
year, the town council shall meet and elect a town council president who shall hold
office during the municipal year.
PROPOSED CHANGE 4:
(c) Council Vice President - As soon as practicable after the councillors elect have
been qualified following each biennial election, the town council shall elect from
among its members a vice president who shall act as president during the absence
or disability of the council president.
Recommended change:- delete 2(c) in its entirety and insert in its place the
following:
(c) Council Vice President - Beginning on the first business day of January in each
year, the town council shall meet and elect a town council vice president who shall
hold office during the municipal year, and who shall act as president during the
absence or disability of the town council president.
PROPOSED CHANGE 5:
SECTION 2-7. OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL OR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
Recommended change:- the insertion of a new paragraph (b 1/2) to read as
follows:
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Research Analyst
— The town council, by the affirmative vote of at least five
members, shall appoint a Research Analyst for an indefinite term of office, who
may serve in a full-time or part-time capacity, and shall serve under the
supervision of the council president.
The Research Analyst shall be appointed solely on the basis of his or her
professional qualifications and experience. The Research Analyst shall perform
research and draft written opinions on public policy questions and perform such
other duties as may be provided by ordinance or by other vote or the town council.
SECTION 2-7, (d) Supervision
Recommended change:- insert after the word "auditor" referenced in SECTION
2-7, (d) Supervision, the words ", research analyst"
PROPOSED CHANGE 6:
SECTION 2-9.FILLING OF VACANCIES.
Recommended change:- delete references to "council president" in sections (a)
and (b).
Recommended change:- create new SECTION 2-10, as follows:
SECTION 2-10. TOWN COUNCIL CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MANAGERS
The town manager shall refer to the town council and simultaneously file with the
town clerk, the name of each person the town manager desires to appoint as a town
department head. Appointment of a depai tiiient head shall become effective on the
30t'' day after the date on which the notice of the proposed appointment was filed
with the town clerk unless sooner approved or rejected by the town council.
PROPOSED CHANGE 7:
Article 3. TOWN MANAGER
SECTION 3-1. APPOINTMENT, TERM OF OFFICE; QUALIFICATIONS
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Recommended change:- delete in its entirety Section 3-1, (b) Qualifications,
second paragraph, which reads as follows:
The town manager need not be a resident of Watertown at the time of his or her
appointment, nor of the Commonwealth, but the town manager shall establish
residence in Watertown within twelve months following his or her appointment
unless excused from such requirement by the town council.
PROPOSED CHANGE 8:
SECTION 3-2. POWERS AND DUTIES.
Recommended change:- insert as a new paragraph 3(A) the following:
3A) Appoint a Community Engagement Office to increase participation in town
government by residents. The Community Engagement Officer shall:
• provide support to individuals interested in being involved in town
government;
• devise and implement strategies to enhance public engagement;
• conduct community outreach efforts to increase participation by
underrepresented residents in town government;
• analyze data on resident engagement;
• regularly submit reports to the town manager and town council; and
• carry out other duties as designated by the town manager.
PROPOSED CHANGE 9:
Recommended change:- insert as a new paragraph 3(B) the following:
3B) Make a State of the Town Address with the council president. Said address
shall be made to the elected bodies, officers of the town, and the public on the state
of affairs of the town.
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