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July 13. 2012 12:26AM
Special election to decide on forming Manchester charter panel
MANCHESTER — Voters will get to decide on primary day whether a charter commission should be formed that would be tasked with reviewing and proposing changes to the city’s basic laws, after an emergency vote Thursday by the mayor and Board of Aldermen.
The board had already approved the ballot question last month, however, the state secretary of state’s office informed the city clerk on Wednesday that it could not appear on the state ballot.
This prompted the scheduling of the emergency meeting Thursday afternoon so the board could vote to authorize the city to hold a special election to coincide with the Sept. 11 primary.
State law requires an order for a special election to be made at least 60 days before an election. The emergency meeting — with less than 24 hours notice — was called for Thursday because there likely wouldn’t be enough aldermen in town for a quorum on Friday, according to City Clerk Matthew Normand.
Having the vote coincide with the state elections will save the city $45,000, the amount it would cost to hold separate elections, Normand said.
Should voters approve the formation of a charter commission, candidates would run to serve on the panel and they would be on the ballot for the general election in November.
The commission would then have a year to review and propose changes to the charter, which would go before voters in the next election, to be voted up or down in their entirety.
Voters are asked to form charter commissions every 10 years.
The mayor, aldermen and members of the School Committee, in recent months, have all alluded to the need for fundamental changes in how the city governs itself, particularly during the protracted and bitter debate over the school budget.
Mayor Ted Gatsas pointed to a school budget hearing on Wednesday, called after the budget was passed in order to comport with the city charter.
But he said a commission should take a hard look at the entire charter. “Everything in city government will be up for discussion,” he said.
Alderman Phil Greazzo said he supported changes that would allow for a consolidated school budgeting process. “We need to have one budget instead of the dysfunctional process we currently have, with the city giving the school board a budget they didn’t request and then the board making adjustments. It’s the same process every year,” he said.
In 2003, a charter commission proposed several major changes — including having partisan elections and making the school district a city department — which voters rejected.
tsiefer@unionleader.com.
The board had already approved the ballot question last month, however, the state secretary of state’s office informed the city clerk on Wednesday that it could not appear on the state ballot.
This prompted the scheduling of the emergency meeting Thursday afternoon so the board could vote to authorize the city to hold a special election to coincide with the Sept. 11 primary.
State law requires an order for a special election to be made at least 60 days before an election. The emergency meeting — with less than 24 hours notice — was called for Thursday because there likely wouldn’t be enough aldermen in town for a quorum on Friday, according to City Clerk Matthew Normand.
Having the vote coincide with the state elections will save the city $45,000, the amount it would cost to hold separate elections, Normand said.
Should voters approve the formation of a charter commission, candidates would run to serve on the panel and they would be on the ballot for the general election in November.
The commission would then have a year to review and propose changes to the charter, which would go before voters in the next election, to be voted up or down in their entirety.
Voters are asked to form charter commissions every 10 years.
The mayor, aldermen and members of the School Committee, in recent months, have all alluded to the need for fundamental changes in how the city governs itself, particularly during the protracted and bitter debate over the school budget.
Mayor Ted Gatsas pointed to a school budget hearing on Wednesday, called after the budget was passed in order to comport with the city charter.
But he said a commission should take a hard look at the entire charter. “Everything in city government will be up for discussion,” he said.
Alderman Phil Greazzo said he supported changes that would allow for a consolidated school budgeting process. “We need to have one budget instead of the dysfunctional process we currently have, with the city giving the school board a budget they didn’t request and then the board making adjustments. It’s the same process every year,” he said.
In 2003, a charter commission proposed several major changes — including having partisan elections and making the school district a city department — which voters rejected.
tsiefer@unionleader.com.