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Date: 10/11/2023
CHICOPEE — Chicopee voters will see a non-binding question on the Nov. 7 election ballot asking if they support a change in the length of the mayor’s term from two to four years.
The question is designed to gain the public’s perspective on the issue and the outcome would not result in any changes on their own. The proposed change, if eventually approved, would be effective at the next mayoral term beginning January 2026.
In order to change the mayor’s term length, the city must host an election for a Charter Commission, or the City Council must pass a home rule petition to be sent out to the state Legislature and governor for adoption.
The council also debated adding a second non-binding question regarding the extension of at-large City Council terms from two to four years, but that effort was not successful.
On Sept. 25, a first special meeting took place, and served as an informational session.
The meeting was called by Mayor John Vieau, to review the charter.
It was shared that the Charter Committee had three recommendations: changing the mayor’s term to four years, making the charter gender neutral and instituting a recall provision. There was also the option to consider all the recommendations made by the committee, which was more than 40 items.
The meeting began with public comment, in which City Council at-large candidate Sean Goonan said he disagrees with extending the mayoral term to four years.
Mayor’s Chief of Staff Michael Pise, who noted that his comments are personal and do not reflect the opinion of the Mayor’s Office or mayor’s staff, recommended the City Council at-large position be shifted to a four-year term instead of a two year-term. In the next election cycle, if adopted, the top two vote-getters would serve a four-year term and the other two at-large individuals would serve a two year term, with an alternating four year-term cycle for two of the at-large councilors every election cycle.
He explained that as an at-large member of the School Committee with a four-year term, he appreciated that an at-large member would still provide “institutional knowledge,” even if the election cycle resulted complete turnover of the School Committee.
Likewise, Pise said he thinks a four-year at-large term would add institutional knowledge and some stability to the City Council.
“It would differentiate between the at-large councilors and the ward councilors. It worked very well, I thought, for the School Committee and it’s something I think you may want to consider in the charter change,” he added.
Chicopee resident Lisa Bienvenue shared, “I understand what people say about stability in government, but I don’t think it should be up to the government to decide what the stability in government should be. I think it should be the voters — the taxpayers — who decide whether we want to see government with a two-year term or a four-year term and then to operate at the will of the people — whether it’s for the at-large councilors, whether it’s for the mayor’s position.”
City Council President Frank Laflamme noted that they would not be voting on any changes during the meeting, and another special meeting would be scheduled.
Ward 9 City Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello and Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina López said the residents should vote on whether the mayor should serve a four-year term.
On Oct. 3, a second special meeting took place.
Addressing the mayoral term question, several councilors said it feels “rushed” for the 2022 election and that it should be on the 2024 presidential election ballot, as it will likely attract more voters.
Laflamme said he was in favor of putting the question on the ballot because the question is non-binding, but said he is also in favor of putting it on the presidential election ballot too.
Laflamme said people will have questions for him, and it is non-binding, meaning there will be a year to work on it before the presidential election and then there will be even more time to discuss it. He believes this question will get people talking.
The council voted 8-5 to put the mayoral question on the ballot. Laflamme, City Councilors at-Large Jerry Roy, James Tillotson, Robert Zygarowski, Ward 1 City Councilor Joel McAuliffe, Ward 2 City Councilor Shane Brooks, Ward 4 City Councilor George Balakier and Ward 8 City Councilor Gary Labrie voted yes.
López, Ward 5 City Councilor Fred Krampits, Ward 6 City Councilor Derek Dobosz, Ward 7 City Councilor William Courchesne and Pniak-Costello voted no.
Addressing the at-large councilor question, Pniak-Costello shared that she feels this is rushed, as it was the last day this can be voted on for it to be on the November election ballot.
Krampits said he thinks this one needs to be vetted out a little bit more.
Labrie said if the four councilors at-large have a four-year term then all councilors should have a four-year term. Balakier agreed and said it might be a little “disingenuous” to ward councilors.
López shared that there is no need to rush through this and it can be on the next election ballot.
Laflamme explained that the Charter Committee was put together by the City Council to give some recommendations. “The 13 members of the City Council are also elected to make decisions on putting things — changing the charter as well — ideas, brought forth by their constituents or residents,” he said.
He thanked Pise for bringing the at-large idea forward at the previous special meeting.
While Laflamme is in favor of changing the at-large term in the future, he said he would not be in favor of voting on it during the meeting.
When it came time to vote on the item, it was defeated by a vote of nine against and four in favor.
Laflamme, Roy, Zygarowski, López, Balakier, Krampits, Dobosz, Courchesne and Pniak-Costello voted no.
Tillotson, McAuliffe, Brooks and Labrie voted yes.