Charter Changes Up For Vote In November's Election

An important democratic process in city government which began in January came to a conclusion last night with the Woonsocket City Council approving four possible amendments to the city's charter to be placed on the ballot in the November 2011 election.

The document is required to be reviewed and updated every ten years and a Charter Review by Mayor Leo Fontaine at the start of 2011. The commission met between February and June to evaluate the document in search of potential improvements and allow .

Their recommendations were then passed on to the City Council to complete the final stages of and voting on the proposals before they reach public vote.

Some of the more controversial proposals, including an amendment to eliminate voting for positions on the school committee and in lieu of mayoral appointment, did not have enough support or council sponsorship to make it to the list of amendments up for vote at last night's City Council meeting. 

An amendment put forth by Council President John Ward which would have created a procedure for in Woonsocket was withdrawn prior to vote.

Councilman Roger Jallette sponsored an amendment to allow the City Council to appoint future city solicitors. Several council members pointed out that the procedures for handling the position of city solicitor, including a provision which gives the council the authority to terminate the individual, were just voted on and changed in 2009. Jalette was the only council member who voted in favor of the amendment. 

All of the remaining four recommendations passed unanimously. The following amendments will be voted on by Woonsocket residents in the November election:

11 0 54: This amendment would extend the terms of bonds and long term notes to 30 years. Currently the limit on such bonds is 20 years.

11 0 55: Pertains to the dollar amount of purchases that can be made before the city is required to allow competitive bidding. The current limit is $2,000 and approval would increase it to $5,000.

11 0 56: Possibly the most significant change up for vote, approval of this amendment would change Woonsocket's municipal voting cycle from odd to even years, to follow the same as the election cycle as the state. Currently Woonsocket is the only city in the state that has local elections independent of state elections. According to the current proposal, officials elected in 2013 would serve for three years and Woonsocket would be on a new cycle starting with the 2016 state (and municipal) election.

11 0 57: This amendment would require that appointees to boards, committees or commissions be residents of Woonsocket, except appointments requiring specialized educational, professional or technical skills.