CHARTER/BYLAW REVIEW COMMITTEE
The following is a brief summary of the changes to the Winchendon Home Rule Charter and the General Bylaws of the Town of Winchendon, which our committee is proposing. We will be presenting these as Articles at our next Special Town Meeting
Although the majority of the changes to both documents are small, and of a "housekeeping" nature, there are a few more substantive changes as listed below. For a complete listing of all details please study the full documents with proposed changes. The Charter Bylaw Committee will also present these documents in October at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting and will address any questions from the Board or the public. These documents are available at the Town Clerks, Town Managers Office in Town Hall and online at: http://www.townofwinchendon.com/page/page/5458764.htm. Also, for more information please contact Mark Shea, Committee Chairman at (978) 297-0085.
CHARTER
Section 2-3 (d)
A new Capital Planning Committee would be established which will advise the town manager and the town meeting on capital improvement needs and budget.
Section 3-1 (e)
The recall of elected officials provision would be revised to increase the number of signatures required for a recall petition and require that specific charges against the officeholder be stated. The name of the person whose recall is sought will be included as a candidate for the office involved without filing nomination papers, unless that person specifically requests not to be included.
Section 3-2 (c)
The section also provides that no person may serve concurrently on the planning board, the board of appeals, the conservation commission, or the board of health.
The offices and boards to be appointed by the selectmen are shown in a bulleted list. In Proposal 1, the board of health is included in this list. When the Charter was originally adopted, the board of health was a three-member board appointed by the town manager. The charter was later amended to make the board of health a five-member elected board. In Proposal 2, the board of health would remain a five-member elected board.
Section #-2 D
This section reauthorizes the capital planning committee and allows its composition to be determined by Bylaw.
Section 3-6
The charter is revised to provide that the representative to the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Committee will be chosen as provided in the interlocal agreement.
Section 4-2 (d)
The references to a personnel bylaw and personnel board would be deleted. The Town Manager is responsible for all Town personnel and its administration consistent with MGL, Charter and Town Bylaws.
Final Draft Page 1 Final Draft Page 2
Article 8
All of the present Article 8 would be deleted. Most of the provisions of this article were transitional provisions relating to the establishment of the town manager form of government, and are no longer needed. Provisions for the appointment of town officials and boards are moved to Articles 3 and 4. The other provisions are incorporated into the proposed revised bylaws.
GENERAL BYLAWS
Section 1.2
Sets the annual town election as the first Monday in May. This proposal is to hold the annual town meeting between the first Monday in May and the second Monday in June, as determined by the selectmen.
Section 2.10
This provision is moved from article 8 of the charter, and proposes that the town manager will submit his annual budget to the finance committee at least 45 days before town meeting. The budget is to be balanced.
Section 3.3
The section would be revised to provide a more workable timetable for the finance committee’s review and hearing on each town meeting warrant.
Section 4
The wording would be revised so that the board of health will have the powers and duties conferred on it by statute, bylaw, or other vote of the town. No specific duties are listed. This will be applicable whether the board is appointed or elected.
Section 6
The entire article on the town ambulance is deleted.
Section 7.18
House numbers would continue to be required. The naming of streets, public or private, and the assignment of house/building numbers is imposed on the planning board. That board may, after a public hearing, change street names or house numbers if the public safety or convenience so requires.
Section 8
The entire article on building inspection is deleted. This subject has been preempted by state law.
Section 10
The whole article relating to a personnel board and personnel policies would be deleted. All town employees are now covered under collective bargaining agreements.
Section 15.3
The historic district commission would now be specifically given the powers of a historic commission.
Section 16
The provisions regarding soil and gravel removal have been moved to article 6. The proposed article inserted in this spot provides detailed procedures for the identification of historic structures that should be preserved. It would require a delay in the demolition of any such structure for twelve months, to allow time for efforts to preserve the building. An exception is made for dangerous buildings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
