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What major changes will take
place if voters approve the The charter will:
<< return to top >> Will the Hopkinton Charter
change the format of Town Meeting? No, Hopkinton will continue to operate with an Open Town Meeting. When volunteers were collecting the signatures of registered voters to get the Charter Commission question on the May 2004 annual town election ballot, many residents said that they did not want a Charter to change the structure of Town Meeting. During development of the charter, Charter Commission members carefully considered this input and decided to leave Town Meeting intact. << return to top >> How much will it cost the
Town of The Town will need additional funds to establish the positions of Town Manager and Finance Director. Since the creation of these positions results from expanding existing positions, we expect the cost increase to total $30,000-50,000. The impact will not be immediate, as the Town must form a Screening Committee to recommend Town Manager candidates to selectmen. Also, the position of Finance Director will not be implemented until July 2007. << return to top >> Why does the Charter recommend that we establish the position of Finance Director? How will this position impact the role of the Appropriation Committee? During development of the charter, the Charter Commission gained input from town officials and members of boards and committees that have specific financial responsibilities (e.g., Selectmen, Accountant, Executive Secretary, Principal Assessor, School Business Manager, Treasurer, Appropriation Committee, Board of Assessors, Capital Improvements). These people noted that developing an annual budget is only one part of the financial process. They stressed the need for better financial management, improved coordination of financial information, a more efficient budget process and long-range financial planning based on goals and objectives. In response to their comments and suggestions, the Charter Commission decided to include a Finance Department and Finance Director in the Charter. If the charter is approved, the Finance Director will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the Town, coordinating financial planning, budgeting and other financial matters, and assisting the Town Manager in preparing the annual budget. The Appropriation Committee will continue to conduct public hearings on the proposed budget, issue printed recommendations and explanations of all financial articles in its annual report and present the proposed budget at Town Meeting. << return to top >> How much authority will the Town Manager have compared to the existing Executive Secretary? The Town Manager will be the chief administrator of the Town. He will supervise the administration of all Town functions under his control; appoint and evaluate certain department heads and town officials; and coordinate preparation of the Town’s annual budget. Currently, the Executive Secretary does not have any appointing authority, and it not part of any documented financial/budget process that currently exists. The Town Manager will appoint the Director of Inspectional Services, DPW Director, Facilities Director, Finance Director, Human Resources Director, Principal Assessor and Treasurer/ Collector. << return to top >> Will the Charter concentrate
a lot of authority in the hands of a few town officials? Currently the Board of Selectmen appoints most appointed officials, boards and committees. Selectmen share with the Town Clerk and Town Moderator responsibility for appointing the Capital Improvement Committee and Appropriation Committee. Voters select 13 elected officials or board members at the annual Town election. With adoption of the Charter, all elected positions remain elected. The Charter spreads out the appointing authority among Selectmen, the Town Manager and the Director of Inspectional Services (Plumbing, Wiring and Gas Inspectors and assistants, Sealer of Weights and Measures and Public Weighers) << return to top >> What is the recall provision
designed to do and how will it work? The recall provision is designed to enable voters to recall an elected official. The two-step process contained in the Charter is stringent. It requires:
If the petitions are certified by the Registrars of Voters, the Selectmen must notify the officer whose recall is sought. If the officer does not resign within five days of receiving the notice, Selectmen must order that an election take place within 90 days – unless another town election will occur within 100 days. Candidates for the office may include the officer whose recall is sought. If voters recall the officer, the candidate with the highest number of votes will be elected. If voters do not recall the official, the person will continue in office until the end of his term. If a person is recalled, he cannot be appointed to any Town office for two years. << return to top >> Can we change the Charter
after we approve it? There are two methods to make changes to the Charter: amendment and revision. Town meeting can propose a Charter amendment by a 2/3 vote. Voters must then approve any amendment at the annual town election. The amendments cannot relate to the composition, method of election or appointment, or terms of office of the legislative body, Selectmen or Town Manager. These changes can only be made through the Charter revision process. The Charter revision process is identical to the procedure for adopting a Charter. Residents would have to collect signatures from at least 15% of registered voters to put a Charter Commission question on the ballot. If the Town Clerk certifies the signatures, Selectmen must order an election to ask voters if they want to establish a Charter Commission. If voters approve formation of a commission, the commissioners have 18 months to submit a revised Charter to the Board of Selectmen. The revised Charter will be placed on the ballot at the next annual town election. << return to top >> |
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