I would like to emphasize one point she makes.
It all depends on the will of voters.
In November, citizens will be asked to create a Charter Review Commission, and the interest around the city is evidenced by 20 candidates vying for a spot on the board, while only a few other elected positions will have contested races in November. If that group is formed, they will review the city's governing document and make recommended changes that will then go before voters at another election.
By reviewing the charter, any number of changes could be proposed. That commission could look at whether the city even has a mayor and City Council or goes to a city manager form of government. The city could even change back to being a town. The commission could look at keeping a mayor and council and extending their term limits, or downsizing the number of councilors that sit on the board. They could recommend things stay exactly the same.
Everything would be up for review.
The Charter Review Commission will do exactly that: examine our own system, see what works. If it doesn't, see if someone is doing a better job of it and find out if we can do what they do. (I am a candidate and speaking personally, the only thing I'm dead against right now is becoming a town. I don't see that making any sense. Nor do I see it as something the population wants.
And that's exactly the point I want to emphasize. Whatever the commissioners come up with will go first before the City Council. The Council can review it but really won't have the ability to make any substantive changes. Then, the entire idea goes before voters in November 2011. Every voter in Newburyport will get the opportunity to give any new charter a thumbs up or down. The commission doesn't have that authority.
Think of it this way. Next month's election will decide whether or not you want to explore building a new house to replace your old one. At the same time you'll decide who should come up with the design of the house. But, in the end, you'll be the one deciding whether or not you really want to tear down the old house in favor of a new one.
The Commission is just a municipal architectural firm. Whether or not any changes are made is up to the voters.
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