Group objects to charter change

Date: 2/17/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SOUTH HADLEY -- A new citizen organization is questioning the wisdom of doing away with a system of government that has served the town for generations.

Citizens Against Mayoral Politics (CAMP) launched its Web site last week at www.nomayor.com as part of its effort to convince voters to defeat the charter change at the town election on April 6.

Mike Fisher, the treasurer for the group told Reminder Publications, "We hope a good conversation about costs and economics will happen over the next seven weeks."

Currently South Hadley's form of government includes a Select Board, a town administrator and a town meeting with 120 elected members.

According to the summary on the ballot question, "The new charter proposes to change the form of government in South Hadley from a town to a city which will continue to operate under the name 'Town of South Hadley.'

"The Board of Selectmen and representative town meeting will be replaced by a mayor and town council. The Mayor will serve as the chief executive officer of the community, in place of the current Board of Selectmen and town administrator.

"The Town Council, made up of seven members, two at large and five precinct councilors, will serve as the legislative body in place of the 120-member town meeting.

"The School Committee will be increased from five elected members to seven members, six of whom will be elected, and the mayor will serve as the seventh member.

"The Mayor, Town Council and School Committee shall be elected for simultaneous two-year terms. Town elections will take place every two years, in November of each odd numbered year, rather than annually in April. All other positions, which are presently elected (i.e. town clerk/treasurer, town collector, board of health, planning board, etc.), will remain elected positions under the new charter. Upon expiration of the current terms of office, such positions shall be filled, on a staggered basis, for four-year terms."

CAMP's arguments against the charter change on its Web site include:

" A mayoral form of government will add costs and increase taxes. Many of South Hadley's unpaid, experienced committee volunteers would be eliminated or replaced by expensive political hires.

" You will lose control of your town. All 120 of your elected town meeting members will be replaced by a majority vote of 4 of 7 City Council members.

" Diminished support and control of your school system will erode your property values and put quality education at risk. The support of your schools will no longer be directed by the voices of your 120 Town Meeting members, but by a majority vote of 4 of 7 City Council members.

" Politicized government is inefficient, ineffective and costs you money. You will lose the stability, continuity and experience of professional town management to a revolving door of mayoral elections, cronies and influence-peddlers."

Fisher also pointed to the "excellent fiscal condition, better to weather the economic downturn" as another reason to keep the present form of government.

"Why throw that away?" he asked.

Fisher added, "We agree the complexity of government today is something one can't leave for a monthly meeting. A professional response for day to day operations is a far sounder approach."

The minority report of the Charter Commission written by Ira J. Brezinsky, Shelia Fitzgerald and Linda Warner Young stated, "While we oppose the proposed Charter, we are convinced that substantive change can and should be made in our government.

"Specifically, we recommend that Town Meeting be reduced to 60 elected members -- 12 from each precinct. The result would retain the representative nature of our legislative body while creating greater transparency and accountability. With reduced membership, competition for seats would be enhanced, forcing candidates to demonstrate better understanding of issues and greater responsiveness to constituents. Additionally, we recommend that all Town Meeting members' votes be recorded.

"We believe the greatest opportunity for improvement rests in changing the roles of Select Board and Town Administrator. The Select Board would be replaced with a Town Council and the position of Town Administrator would be changed to a Town Manager.

"Roles and responsibilities must be more clearly defined. The Town Manager would have responsibility for daily town operations. The role of the Town Council would be to establish policy, recommend a budget and oversee the work of the Town Manager.

"An enterprise as large and complex as our municipal government cannot continue to be managed by a well-meaning, but untrained, part-time committee of five. The Town Manager must be given the authority to effectively, forcefully and efficiently implement policies and manage the budget as proposed by the Council and appropriated by Town Meeting. These roles and responsibilities must be articulated and incorporated into the town by-laws.

"We urge the voters to carefully consider the proposed Charter. We believe a more measured, less radical approach to reform our government will better serve the residents of South Hadley and not jeopardize the long-term financial stability of our town."