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Petition drive to re-examine town government in East Longmeadow continues to gain support

Date: 9/25/2014

EAST LONGMEADOW – A committee of at least a half dozen residents continues to drive a petition that focuses on the possibility of exploring new forms of government for the town.

Currently, the drive needs at least 600 more signatures by Nov. 4 in order to reach its goal of approximately 1,700 signatures, or 15 of registered voters, which would allow a question to be placed on the April 2015 Town Election ballot, Sid Starks, co-chair of the committee behind the petition drive, said.

“It’s not an attempt to overthrow the government,” he said. “It’s an attempt to try to make it more efficient. Taxes keep going up. I can guarantee that any form of government’s not going to reduce taxes but if we can stabilize them, that’s a thought.”

The ballot question would be for the creation of a nine-member Charter Commission to frame a charter for the town, Russell Denver, appropriations committee member and a member of the citizen volunteer drive, said. 

Denver explained that the town does not have a charter; it uses adopted bylaws and state legislation to operate its municipal government.

Any citizens interested in serving on the potential Charter Commission would take out nomination papers in December and run for election, Starks said. The nine candidates with the most votes would be elected.

“We’re just trying to do our due diligence here,” he explained. “We have no preconceived ideas on what form of government. The commissioners may but my goal is, ‘Let’s get it on the ballot and let the voters decide.’”

If residents approve the Town Election ballot, the Charter Commission would create a preliminary report for residents and the attorney general within eight to 16 months and schedule two public hearings.

The proposed charter would then be placed on the Annual Town Election Ballot, which could likely take place in 2016, he added.

If voters choose not to adopt a charter, but 35 percent of residents vote in favor of a proposed charter, it can be resubmitted to voters within two years, Starks explained.

About 10 years ago, residents chose not to adopt a charter when the topic was addressed at a Town Meeting, he said.

“A lot has a happened in the last 10 years; our budget has grown, and our town has grown,” he added.

Denver said oftentimes residents get lost in morass of municipal procedures, which the current form of town government is built upon.

“You have a number of departments who serve two different masters and if you have a problem, who does each department go to?” he added.

Denver said that if a town business wants to get a liquor license they have to meet and receive approval from the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen.

The citizen led committee is bipartisan, Starks said. One of the committee's main goals is the process of educating residents on the home rule charter process.

“Most of the people involved; people have asked for petitions saying, ‘Hey, I want to go door-to-door in my neighborhood, Something has to be done,’” he added.

Members of the committee for the petition drive will be collecting signatures on Oct. 4 from 8 to 11 a.m. outside the Dunkin’ Donuts at 55 Maple St. and at the Knowlton Transfer Station, located on the eastern side of Somers Road behind the Police Station.

 “There was a time frame when unless it effected your wallet, you really didn’t care, you go along with the system,” he added. “Now more people are saying ‘This is our future. Let’s look at the next to 10 years; the next 20 years.’”