"Explore the key findings and recommendations from the Williamstown Charter Review Committee's comprehensive review of town governance, including proposed changes to town meeting, elections, town manager-board relationships, and more. Discover the categories of over 30 issues discussed and the conclusions on fundamental structures, along with proposed warrant articles for future improvements."
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Timeline of Work Established by the Select Board in August 2022 to review the Chatter and related bylaws on town governance. Charter had not had a focused review since its adoption in 1956. Committee members are: Joe Bergeron Nate Budington Andy Hogeland, co-chair Jeff Johnson, co-chair Mary Kennedy Anne Skinner Jeff Strait Bob Menicocci, ex officio Charter Review Committee met at least monthly since September 2022. Meetings discussed over 30 different issues and included presentations by the RCV and technical support from the Collins Center. Public outreach included: Tabling at 2023 Town meeting, National Night Out, Farmers Market, Presentations at Harper Center and interim report to Select Board Social media on Town Facebook and Williamstown Info and Issues websites Community survey with over 500 respondents Surveys of town employees, board and committee members 2
CATEGORIES OF OVER 30 ISSUES IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED QUESTIONS AS TO TOWN MEETING AS THE BASIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS AS TO ELECTIONS QUESTIONS AS TO POWERS OF THE TOWN MANAGER AND SELECT BOARD QUESTIONS AS TO LIMITATIONS ON TOWN OFFICIALS OTHER PROCESS QUESTIONS - including periodic review and enforcement ROLE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WILLIAMSTOWN FIRE DISTRICT MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES TO REFLECT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS FURTHER WORK ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS 3
CONCLUSIONS ON FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURES KEEP OPEN TOWN MEETING, BUT EXPLORE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT KEEP ELECTION FORMAT, BUT CLARIFY DATE WHEN ELECTED OFFICES TERMINATE DID NOT RECOMMEND RANK CHOICE VOTING KEEP BASICS OF TOWN MANAGER-SELECT BOARD RELATIONSHIP, WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON LITIGATION AUTHORITY, BUDGET AND MISCONDUCT CLARIFY OR MODIFY LIMITATIONS ON TOWN OFFICIALS, AND PROPOSE RECALL PROVISION ESTABLISH PROCESSES FOR PERIODIC REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT OF CHARTER MAINTAIN ROLE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE INITIATE ANALYSIS ON FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH FIRE DISTRICT ADDRESS OBSOLETE PROVISIONS (FORMER SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WELFARE AGENT, ETC.) FURTHER REVIEW OF USE OF TECHNLOGY TO IMPROVE TOWN OPERATIONS 4
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED WARRANT ARTICES 1. Adjust of deadline for filing proposed warrant articles with the SB allows more time for SB to prepare warrant and clarifies deadline applies to boards as well as citizen petitions 2. Adjust budget preparation process to ensure SB priorities are developed by November 15 in time for preparation of budget 3. Reconcile different provision on litigation authority to confirm SB s authority, which may be delegated to Town Manager 4. Clarify inconsistent provisions regarding Town Manager s authority over boards by distinguishing those under the Town Manager s control versus those established by Town Meeting 5. Define more clearly the scope of the prohibition on SB and FinComm members from holding other town offices ; they may hold them in their official capacity, and can serve on advisory committees and as representatives to intergovernmental bodies 6. Establish a minimum 10 year periodic requirement to review the Charter; can do earlier as needed. 5
7. Technical modifications to delete out of date references (welfare agent, former WES school committee) and broaden what persons may give oath of office 8. Confirm past informal practice of when terms of elected office end: if elections remain before town meeting, then terms end at conclusion of town meeting or 20 days from election, whichever is sooner 9. Create provision for recall of elected officials. Not allowed during first 6 months of election nor within 6 months of end of term Requires 50 voters to get the petition Requires 10% of registered voters to sign the petition within 28 days (over 5,000 registered voters today) Recall vote to be scheduled 64-120 days after clerk certifies the petition signatures, but if an election is already scheduled within the 120 days, the vote would be then. If office becomes vacant either by resignation or recall, normal process for appointing a replacement until the next election. The recall election would not include option to elect a replacement at the same time Official who is recalled or resigns during recall process may not be appointed to other office for two years, but may run for election. 6
10. Create mechanism for enforcing compliance with Charter. Creates obligations by Town Manager and SB to ensure compliance. Creates option for a citizen to file a complaint and have the person or board file a response within 30 days. Remedy is basically public disclosure and response town can take action as appropriate and legal rights to seek enforcement are reserved 11. Rewrite cooperation clause as to Fire District to expand it to apply to all government entities. 12. Ensure that Town Managers are recused from investigations into themselves and that the matter is promptly referred to SB 7
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE WORK NOT INVOLVING CHARTER ITSELF In the course of our review, several topics arose that we believe deserve further attention to improve town operations 1. Better training of board and committee members in substance of their work, Open Meeting Law and how to conduct meetings 2. More affirmative efforts to recruit and attract applicants to boards and committees, and to ensure broad representation of the community 3. More coordination between boards on areas of overlapping interest 4. More work on making Town Meeting accessible and reducing disincentives to attendance 5. Continued review of options for remote participation in Town Meeting 6. Continued attention to the ways technology can make town operations more efficient 7. Initiate a focused review of the future relationship between town and fire district 8
