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Home My WebLink AboutBY-LAW CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEETHE FOLLOWING CHARTER CHANGES HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE PAST Recommended by the School Committee: 1. Change date of submission of school committee budget to January 15 from current December 1. 2. Change day of town election to Tuesday 3. The date of town elections should be reconsidered. 4. The CIP budget should be treated the same as operating budget, i.e, if the school committee's requests differ from the town manager's, town meeting Should have the chance to vote on them. 5. The day of town meeting should be given some discussion, perhaps starting on a Saturday. 6. The school committee would like direct access to town counsel without going through the town manager. Recommended by the Town Clerk: Change 2-2-3 to remove requirement that warrant be published in the newspaper. Recommended by Youth Services Department: 1. Change Chapter 5 to add necessary references to Youth Services Department under the Division of Human Services. 2.Change Chapter 7 to add necessary references to Youth Services Board. Recommended by Carrie Crouch: 1. Change to representative town meeting with 15 representatives from each precinct. 2. Change Town Meeting to the first Saturday in May from 9-12 and 2-6, and on continuing days if necessary. Recommended by the Fire Department: 1. Change Town Meeting to the second Saturday in April at 10 am. 2. Add to Chapter 2; 2-6-1: Such rules shall be provided in writing at the entrance to the Town Meeting and the Moderator shall not read, explain nor expound on such rules unless specifically requested to do so." 3. Delete 4-1-3 entirely and the last sentence in 4-11-1 4.Delete the words "all town" in the first sentence of 5-3-1. Recommended by Council on Aging: 1o Sections 2-7 in Chapter 7 refer to 3-year overlapping terms. It might be good to not have reappointments, but require members to go off the board for 12 to 18 months to encourage new people to be on the board. Police Department has suggestions on personnel policies. TEE FOLLOWING C~ARTER CHANGES HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE PAST Recommended by the School Committee: 1. Change date of submission of school committee budget to January 15 from current December 1. 2. Change day of town election to Tuesday 3. The date of town elections should be reconsidered. 4. The CIP budget should be treated the same as operating budget, i.e, if the school committee's requests differ from the town manager's, town meeting should have the chance to vote on them. 5. The day of town meeting should be given some discussion, perhaps starting on a Saturday. 6. The school committee would like direct access to town counsel without going through the town manager. Recommended by the Town Clerk: Change 2-2-3 to remove requirement that warrant be published in the newspaper. Recommended by Youth Services Department: 1. Change Chapter 5 to add necessary references to Youth Services Department under the Division of Human Services. 2.Change Chapter 7 to add necessary references to Youth Services Board. Recommended by Carrie Crouch: 1. Change to representative town meeting with 15 representatives from each precinct. 2. Change Town Meeting..to the first Saturday in May from 9-12 and 2-6, and on continuing days if necessary. Recommended by the Fire Department: 1. Change Town Meeting to the second Saturday in April at 10.am. 2. Add to Chapter 2; 2-6-1: Such rules shall be provided in writing at the entrance to the Town Meeting and the Moderator shall not read, explain nor expound on such rules unless specifically requested to do so." 3. Delete 4-1-3 entirely and the last sentence in 4-11-1 4.Delete the words "all town" in the first sentence of 5-3-1. Recommended by Council on Aging: 1. Sections 2-7 in Chapter 7 refer to 3-year overlapping terms. It might be good to not have reappointments, but require members to go off the board for 12 to 18 months to encourage new people to be on the board. Police Department has suggestions on personnel policies. PROCEDURES FOR CHARTER CHANGE Adoption of a home rule charter by a town in Massachusetts is a lengthy procedure involving petitions, election of a commission, approval of town meeting and passage of a ballot question. In order to make substantive changes ih the charter it is necessary to go through this entire process. "Substantive changes" include changing the composition, mode of election or appointment, or terms of office of the Selectmen or Town Manager as well as open town meeting. Any other provisions can be amended by one of two methods: Amendment procedure: (G.L.c. 43B, art. 10b) 1. Changes are suggested by Selectmen or by petition with the signatures of 10 or more voters. 2. A public hearing must be held within 3 months, with 7 days advance notice in the paper. 3. Town Meeting votes on the changes; they must be approved by a 2/3 majority. 4. Copies of the amendment(s) are filed with Attorney General, who must comment within 4 weeks. 5. Selectmen place the amendments on the ballot for the next general town election, at least two months after the town meeting vote. Copies of proposed amendments must be mailed to voters at least two weeks before election. Changes are approved with a simple majority. Special Act procedure: 1. Town Meeting authorizes the Selectmen to petition the State Legislature to pass a special act incorporating the proposed changes. 2. The legislature approves the petition. 3. Although not required, voters traditionally vote to accept the special act. 4. This method can apparently change any aspect of the charter. ML/10-22-93 PROCEDURES FOR CHARTER CHANGE Adoption of a home rule charter by a town in Massachusetts is a lengthy procedure involving petitions, election of a commission, approval of town meeting and passage of a ballot question. In order to make substantive changes in the charter it is necessary to go through this entire process. "Substantive changes" include changing the composition, mode of election or appointment, or terms of office of the Selectmen or Town Manager as well as open town meeting, kny other provisions can be amended by one of two methods: Amendment Drocedure: (G.L.c. 43B, art. 10b) 1. Changes are suggested by Selectmen or by petition with the signatures of 10 or more voters. 2. A public hearing must be held within 3 months, with 7 days advance notice in the paper. 3. Town Meeting votes on the changes; they must be approved by a 2/3 majority. 4. Copies of the amendment(s) are filed with Attorney General, who must comment within 4 weeks. 5. Selectmen place the amendments on the ballot for the next general town election, at least two months after the town meeting vote. Copies of proposed amendments must be mailed to voters at least two weeks before election. Changes are approved with a simple majority. Special Act Drocedure: 1. Town Meeting authorizes the Selectmen to petition the State Legislature to pass a special act incorporating the proposed changes. 2. The legislature approves the petition. 3. Although not required, voters traditionally vote to accept the special act. 4. This method can apparently change any aspect of the charter. ML/10-22-93 TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN APPLICATION FOR ~l--~l BOARDS/VO~ posITIoNS Presen[ Business Affiliation and Work: (bus.ess) Town Offices Held (in North Andover or elsewh~.~_ ): Position D~te Appointed Term Expired To W/Z W o T- c o r Board of Assessors ~hle TV CC~mlt~ Civil Defense Conservation Commission Council on Aging Disability Issues, Cu,,,,,,i -~sion on Historical. Commission Loc~! Arts Council __ ~ P~presentative TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN TELEPHONE 682-6483 Present Business Affiliation and Work: (hcae) Town Offices Held (in North Andover or ~]~re): Position r/- // ", /' Board of Assessors _r~hle TV o ...... i~ Civil Defense Conservation (~ ....... i ssion Di aility Issues, Sanitary Di-~trict Bo~d of Health Historical 0 ....... ; ssion Historic District Industrial Dev. Finance Authority Loc~ Arts Council . N~SWC ~presentative Pla~nl ng Board Precint Workers Public Works ~xlvisory Cm~ttee Recreation Counci/ RegiStrar of Voters, Board of Youth Servlce~ Board of D~xmcto~s ZoDi~g Board of App~__!s TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN AUG Z 5 1993 ~.L~',' .... 7:b:-ZT-.: TELEPHONE 682-6483 .lephone: G, 7- 1 Present l~s~,= 2~filiatio~ ar~ #ork: I Education or Special T~inlng: Town Offices Held (in North Andover or elsewhere): Position Date APPointed Board of Assessors Cable TV O ...... ittee -- Civil Defense Conservation (k ....... ; ssion __ Oouncil on Aging __ Disability Issues, Co~m! ssion on G~'~e~ter T ~w~e.~ce ~ o~ He~l.~ R{ storic District Cu ...... ;ssion __ Industrial Dev. Finance Authority Local Arts Council . Prec~ nt Worker~ Public Works Advisory ~ttee -- P~reation Council __ Registrar of Voters, Board of Seasonal Decorating Youth Services Board of D{vectors __ go~ing Bo~d of Appeals TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS BOARD Telephone: 7 .~- ~ ~'*~V/' .~ (home) ~ ~ (business) Present Bumineas ~f£/liation and Work: / _~~ ~/~--~Y~ offices Held (in Noz-th Andover or else/hem): Position Date Appointed ~ Exvired Board of Assessors Cable ~ Cn~m{tt~ civil Defense Conservation Co~m~ ssion __ Council on /~jir~ __ Disability Issues, Com--~ ssion on Sanitary Diat.ri~c. R~p. Board of Health Historical C~i ssion __ Historic District Commission __ Industrial Dev. Finance Authority Local Arts Council __ NESWC Representative TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN TELEPHONE 6~'~F4~B3 APPLICATION FOR TOWN BOARD~/VO~ POSITIONS Present Busi~-~ Affiliation and Work: Education or Special Train/rig: Town Offices Held (in North Andover or elsewhere): Position Date AD~o~ed Board of Assessors Cable TV O ...... ittee Civil Defense Conservation Comm~.~sion Council on Aging __ Disability Issues, Commission on Sanitary District Rep. Board of Health Historical. O,,-,,i .~sion Historic District Co.,-~ ssion __ Industrial Dev. Finance A~thority Local Arts Council Precint Workers __ Public Works Advisory Comm~ttcc Recreation Council __ Registrar of Voters, Boai~d of Seasonal Decorating ~-~ttee Youth Services Board of D~rs zoning Board of App~l ~ __ Special TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN TONN OF NOR'~-I ]LNDOV]~ TELEF.ON; 682-6483 The Board of Selectmen are looking for citizens interesting in serving on the following committees currently being established: Joe Hermann Memorial Committee For the purpose of bringing forward recommendations for dedicating a suitable memorial in honor of the Town's late State Representative, Joseph Hermann. Bylaw Charter Review Committee For the purpose of reviewing and updating, as necessary, North Andover's Town Charter as approved at North Andover's Town Election of March 3, 1986. TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER 120 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845 Telefax Transmittal Form Date: Addressee: Name: Firm: Street: Auqust 6, 1993 John Macone Lawrence Eaqle-Tribune City, St., Zip~ Telefax Phone Number: 687-4045 From: James P. Gordon, Town Manager Town of North Andover Town Manager/Board of Selectmen Office 120 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845 Telephone: (508) 682-6483 Fax Number: (508) 682-2996 Total Number of Pages, Including This Form: Additional Comments: John Savastano made a MOTIf, seconded by Kenneth Crouch, to favorably recommend Article 5; vote approved 4-0. John Savastano made a ~4OTI~, seconded by Kenneth Crouch, to close the August 18, 1993, Special Town Meeting warrant; vote approved 4-0. AUT~D~T~ATION TO BOIIROW - MRI A~ARD: Kenneth Crouch made a ~0TI~, seconded by Donald Stewart, to authorize the Finance Director to borrow $ 198,616 for one year to pay $ 298,616 to MRI for the arbitration award; vote approved 4-0. The other $ 100,000 was identified in the FY' 93 Division of PuJblic Works budget. p]~t~, ByI~%W~OC~ - .~r~'S~'~'~E: The Town ~anager requested that the Board of Selectmen appoint a member of their Board to sit on the Personnel Bylaw Review Co~nittee. The Board of Selectmen chose to not appoint a member of their Boardbecause they felt that the Town Manager could review the requests and changes developed by this review committee more objectively without the influence of a Board member. Kenneth Crouch made a ~UTI~, seconded by sh the Charter Review Committee which will be comprised o~~d to authorize the advertisement for applicants; vote approved AD~: There being no further business, Donald Stewart made a seconded by John Savastano, to adjourn this meeting at 9:00 PM; vote approved 4-0. Melissa Powers, Secretary Clerk, The Board of selectmen are looking for citizens interesting in serving on the following committees currently being established: ~ recommendations ~or bringing forward Town's late dedicau ~ ._- joseph ~ermann. state Representat~¥=' s neceSSarY, · · 'n~ and updating, a , For the purpose of revleW~ - _ ~o ed at North Andover s ToWn Charter as ~ North Andover'S Town Election of March 3, 1986. Town Elections Agreeable to a Warrant signed February 3, 1986, bv the Board of S~lcctmnn, %he inhabitants of the Town of North Andover qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs met at the designated polling places on Monday, the third day nf March, 1~86, at 7:00 a.m. to act upon the following article and question: Article 1. A Town Clerk for three year, one Selectman for three years, ~ Treasurer for three years, one Asso~sor for three years, o-e member of th~ Board of Health for three years, one member of the Board of Public Works for three years, one member of the School Committee for three years, one member ~f the Planning Board for five years, one member of the Housing Authority for five years. Question 1. Shall this Town approve the new charter recommende~ by Charter Commission, summarized below? Ballot Summary If approved Dy the voters, the Charter will become fully effective cn the first day of October following its adoption by the voters. The Charter provides for an OPEN TOWN MEETING, a five-person elected BOARD OF SELECTMEN, who, as the chief policy-making board, will make several key appointments, including a TOWN MANAGER. The Manager is given responsibilities in budget preparation, personnel administration and in appointments, which are subject to the approval or disapproval of the Selectmen. Other elected Town officers and boards will be a moderator, a regional school committee representative, a housing authority, and a school committee. The Charter proposes an administrative structure of three ~]vi~ions: FINANCE, PUBLIC WORKS, and PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Officers Return I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of North Andover who are qualified to vote in Town Affairs by posting true and attested cooies in the Town Building and at five or more places in each voting precinct of the Town. Said copies not having been posted not less than seven days before time of said meeting. ARTICLE 1. Election of officers and any question on the ballot. Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 7:00 p.m. Results of Town Election - March 3, 1986 Office & Candidates Town Clerk Daniel Long Kathleen Demers Blanks Number of Votes Bv Precinct One Two Three Four Five Total 604 666 751' 654 1022 ~97 144 208 237 245 519 1353 16 24 22 32 34 128 103 ARTICLR 33. TOWN MEETINGS. To see if the Town will vote to return Town Meetings to Saturday in place of evenin9 meetings including any necessary amendments to the Town Charter or By- Laws. George F. Henderson and Others VOTED to reject this article. The Board of Selectmen will appoint a Charter Committee to update the Charter. Pa~e 3 ~ns for awarenes~ ye the ond 20 MPH made a nt d4-0. ~ested tb ~lus 3dance wit Departmer ~ion desks lded by ]or 2eno, to 2or; vote ~ably tano, to tor; vote Minutes A%K3%%~t 2, 1993 Page 4 John Savastano made a MOTIC~, seconded by Kenneth Crouch, to favorably recommend Article 4; vote approved 4-0. ~Article %5 - Kenneth Crouch made a MOTI~, seconded by Donald Stewart, to place Article 5 in the warrant, as presented by the Finance Director; vote approved 4-0. John Savastano made a ~DTTC~, seconded by Kenneth Crouch, to favorably recommend Article 5; vote approved 4-0. John Savastano made a ~OTIC~, seconded by Kenneth Crouch, to close the August 18, 1993, Special Town Meeting warrant; vote approved 4-0. AUT~ORIZATIONTO BORROW - ~ AWARD: Kenneth Crouch made a ~OTIfR~, seconded by Donald Stewart, to authorize the Finance Director to borrow $ 198,616 for one year to pay $ 298,616 to MRI for the arbitration award; vote approved 3-0-1 (John Savastano abstained). The other $ 100,000 was identified in the FY' 93 Division of Public Works budget. PERSfRINRL BYLAW~f%X.T.~'P~R - -_~RL_RC'II~R~'SREPRm~IM~M.: The Town Manager requested that the Board of Selectmen appOint a member of their Board to sit on the Personnel Bylaw Review Committee. The Board of Selectmen chose to not appoint a member of their Board because they felt that the Town Manager could review the requests and changes'developed by this review co~¥m,ittee more objectively without the influence of a Board member. ~-. :,,---~ ~ Kenneth Crouch made a l~TI~, seconded by John Savastano, ~o esk~0~lsh the Charter Revzew Com~ttee which wzll be comprised of seven people and to authorize the advertisement for applicants; vote approved 4-0. ~: There being no further business, Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by John Savastano, to adjourn this meeting at 9:00 PM; vote approved 4-0. Melissa Powers, Secretary Clerk, rablY I~art, to tot; vote irable re/lO, to ~tor; vot~ James P. Gordon Town Manager TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TOWN MANAGER 120 MAIN STREET, 01845 TELEPHONE 682-6483 FROM: DATE: RE: Karen Robertson, Administrative Assistant James P. Gordon, T~wn Manager August 3, 1993 Call for Commit't~ee Membership The Board of Selectmen at their meeting of August 2, 1993, asked me to advertise for citizens to serve on the Joe Hermann Memorial Committee as well as the Charter Review Co~[,,,ittee. Please talk to reporters from both papers and see if you can persuade them to write an article directed towards the solicitation for committee members. Perhaps you might want to write up a short message as to the purpose of each coL~.,ittee. Thank you. JG: map