City Council

The current City Council consisting of 11 members; 5 elected at-large and 6 elected by ward would not continue. Terms would remain for 2 years. No modification of compensation is proposed. The Council would continue to appoint a city clerk and confirm department heads and board and commission appointments made by the Mayor. The City Council would retain the powers of municipal legislative bodies in Massachusetts.

Mayor

The Mayor’s would continue to be the chief executive officer of the City, responsible for its day-to-day operations. The Mayor would serve a 4-year term, rather than the current 2-year term. The initial salary of the Mayor would be $98,000.

School Committee

The School Committee would remain a 7-member body, with 6 members elected at-large and the Mayor serving as the chair. Elected school committee members would continue to serve 4 year staggered terms. No modification in compensation is proposed.

Organization of City Operations

The Mayor would be authorized to submit reorganization plans of City departments, boards and commissions to the City Council. The City Council could approve or reject the Mayor’s proposals but would not have the authority to amend them.

Human Resources

There would be a Human Resources Department responsible for the supervision and coordination of all aspects of human resources management. A director would be appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the City Council and would serve no less than a 3 year term. There would be merit principles which would require the City to adhere to when hiring City personnel.

City Finances

The Mayor would be required to call a joint meeting of the City Council and the School Committee to review the fiscal condition of the City before the start of each year’s budget process. The budget process would become more transparent, and would require a public hearing. The Mayor would be required to prepare a five-year financial projection and capital improvement program. There would be a finance department under the direction of a finance director appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the City Council and would serve for no less than a 3 year term. The finance department would oversee the assessing, auditing, collecting, treasury and purchasing functions. The finance director may serve as the auditor or treasurer/collector, but not both.

Prohibitions

Members of the City Council or School Committee would not be allowed to hold any other paid position with the City until 1 year after their service ends. Any elected official finally convicted of a felony related to their office would immediately be removed from office.

Elections

Elections would take place in September and November in each odd-numbered year as they are now.

Voter Participation Provisions

There would be provisions for voters to directly participate in the decisions of City Government. There would be a provision to allow voters to petition the Council to put an item on its agenda; to initiate a referendum to allow voters to reverse measures adopted by the City Council or School Committee; and to initiate petitions to compel the City Council or School Committee to adopt measures. There would be safeguards against frivolous petitions.

Charter and Ordinance Review

The City would be required to review its charter every ten years and codify its ordinances every five years.

Timeline

The Preliminary Report will be filed with the State by March 4 and published in the Daily News on that date; a public hearing is scheduled for March X. The Commission will consider comments and may make modifications to the Preliminary Report which will be filed with the State by May 4^th. The proposed charter will be placed on the November 2011 ballot. Some provisions, including the term of office of the Mayor, would not take effect until November 2013.