Charter Review Committee agenda
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Hearing Room 18
210 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060

1.

Approval of Minutes for September 3, 2019 meeting

2.

Public comment

3.

Updates from committee members

4.

Discussion and vote on clarification to filling of vacancies in Section 5-3 (Elector Under the Oliver Smith Will)

by removing the phrase Vacancy shall be filled in a like manner as a city clerk vacancy and replacing with Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Elector under the Oliver Smith Will, the city council shall, within 30 days following the date of that vacancy, act to fill the vacancy. A person elected to fill a vacancy by the city council shall serve only until the next regular city election, when the office shall be filled by the voters. The person elected at such regular city election shall take office immediately. No vacancy shall be filled under this section if a regular city election is to be held within 120 days following the date of the vacancy. A person serving as Elector under the Oliver Smith Will under this section shall not be entitled to have the words “candidate for re-election” printed next to that person's name on the election ballot; and 5-5 (Community Preservation Committee) by removing the phrase Vacancy shall be filled in a like manner as a city clerk vacancy and replacing with Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Community Preservation Committee, the city council shall, within 30 days following the date of that vacancy, act to fill the vacancy. A person elected to fill a vacancy by the city council shall serve only until the next regular city election, when the office shall be filled by the voters. The person elected at such regular city election shall take office immediately. No vacancy shall be filled under this section if a regular city election is to be held within 120 days following the date of the vacancy. A person serving as a member of the Community Preservation Committee under this section shall not be entitled to have the words “candidate for re-election” printed next to that person's name on the election ballot.
5.

Further discussion of impact of recommended lower municipal voting age on eligibility of 16- and 17-year-olds to run for municipal office

6.

Discussion of whether content/format of department heads' annual reports is a charter issue

7.

Discussion of whether printing election ballots in multiple languages is a charter issue

8.

Further discussion of timing and process for writing the committee's report, including draft summary of recommendations (see Attachment1)

9.

Schedule of fall meetings: Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Nov. 5 (Election Day), Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 17

10.

Adjourn