Charter Commission Update

Proposed Revisions to Article 2 (Legislative):

• There shall be a city council of 13 members.
• Eight councilors will be known as councilors-by-ward, 1 from each of the city’s 8 wards, elected by voters city-wide.
• Five councilors will be known as councilors at-large. They can live anywhere in the city and will be elected by voters city-wide.
• A candidate for the office of councilor-by-ward shall be a resident of the ward from which the candidate seeks election as of July 1 (prior to an election).
• A candidate for the office of councilor at-large shall be a resident of the city as of July 1 (prior to an election).
• Councilors may serve for 6 consecutive terms (term limit of twelve consecutive years).

Proposed Revisions to Article 3 (Executive):

• The mayor shall appoint a chief administrative officer to coordinate and direct the operations of the various departments and functions of municipal government.
• City employees may serve on advisory boards and commissions, so long as they do not comprise more than 1/3 of the full membership of the board or commission.
• If a vacancy in the office of the mayor occurs during the last 9 months of the term for which the mayor was elected, the president of the city council shall serve as the acting mayor until the next election for mayor is held.

Proposed Revisions to Article 4 (School Committee):

• A candidate for the School Committee shall be a resident of the ward from which the candidate seeks election as of July 1 (prior to an election).
• An up-to-date record of policies adopted by the school committee shall be made electronically available to the public.
• School Committee members may serve for 6 consecutive terms (term limit of twelve consecutive years).