LWVN strongly endorses a YES vote on Tuesday in favor of the proposed new city charter.
After many years of advocating for a smaller city council and a review of the city charter, as well as observing the Charter Commission in action, LWVN reviewed the proposal this past spring and overwhelmingly voted to support a YES vote.
While reducing the size of the City Council, the proposal also enables all Newton voters to vote for 100% of the City Council, increasing accountability of our elected officials. Geographic representation is still an essential part of the proposed structure, with one Councilor elected at-large from each ward, and four elected at-large without residency requirements.
Other improvements include important procedural updates that bring our city charter in compliance with Massachusetts laws and a requirement for public comment at meetings of all Boards and Commissions. Term limits are added for both City Council (16 years or 8 terms) and Mayor (12 years or 3 terms).
Remember, we are voting on this proposal only. The docketed home-rule petition is NOT on the ballot and is not a guaranteed option. We need to vote on the Charter Commission proposal on its own merits, and LWVN believes this will be a positive step forward for our city.