I encourage everyone to attend and to consider running for the panel. Papers need to be picked up and returned to the City Clerk by Sept. 15 with 50 signatures, a few more actually for good measure.
Forum about charter review set for Sept. 10
By Katie Farrell Lovett
Staff writer
NEWBURYPORT — An informational forum to explain more about the charter review and what voters will be asked on the November ballot has been scheduled for Sept. 10.
Bonnie Sontag, who is working with others to launch an effort to start a review of the city's governing document, said the forum will discuss the process of a charter review — what has happened so far and what's next.
Earlier this year, citizens spent months collecting signatures from registered voters, asking if they would support putting a question on the ballot in November. That question would ask citizens if they wanted a review of the charter.
With enough people signing the petition, voters will now be asked if they support the creation of a Charter Review Commission, answering, "Shall a commission be elected to frame a charter for the City of Newburyport?"
At the same time, they will be asked to vote for members for that commission from a list of candidates on the ballot. Nine commissioners will be elected.
A Charter Review Commission would be charged with reviewing the document and making proposed changes. Those could include changing the city's form of government from a mayor to a city manager, extending the mayor's term, extending city councilors' terms or changing how people are appointed or elected to boards.
Citizens can still take out nomination papers to run for the Charter Review Commission, having until Sept. 15 to do so and return the forms.
Any changes would need to be approved by voters during an election.
Sontag said yesterday the forum will include an explanation of the process and will include some speakers. There will be a question-and-answer period for the audience. The committee is considering asking someone who has served on a charter review commission in another community to come and discuss their experiences, but members have not yet decided on who that person may be, she said. There will also be a speaker from University of Massachusetts who will speak on charter review.
The forum begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, in the City Hall Council Chambers.
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