Selectmen Unanimously Vote To Place Charter Question on Ballot

The last step in getting a Charter question before voters took place Tuesday night at the Framingham Selectmen’s meeting.

Framingham Selectmen unanimously voted 5-0 to place the Charter Commission question on the town’s March 29 election ballot.

On that Tuesday, Framingham voters will be asked to create a Charter Commission to study the Town’s form of government to make possible changes.

A yes vote creates a 9-member Charter Commission. A no vote keep Framingham as it is a Town, with a Manager, a 5-member Board of Selectmen and a Town Meeting with 12 members elected for each of the Town’s 18 precincts.

Framingham First, an organization made up of political leaders in Framingham both past and present, collected and submitted signatures of more than 15 percent fo registered voters in Framingham to the Town Clerk to get the Charter Commission question on the ballot.

Framingham Town Clerk Valerie Mulvey said 6,060 signatures were verified, which was 400 signatures more than needed. There are 37,727 registered voters in Framingham.

Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to announce that Framingham First had formed in June 2015, and was gathering signatures to create a Charter Commission. Framingham Patch was also the first media outlet to publish the organziation had reached the necessary signatures.

Voters on March 29 will also elect 9 Commissioners, if the ballot question passes. More than 30 individuals have pulled papers to run for Commissioner thus far. The deadline to submit 100 signatures of registered voters is Feb. 9.

If voters agree to form a Charter Commission in the spring of 2016, the Commission would be tasked to study forms of government for up to 18 months and then make recommendations on possible changes, including the possible of option of becoming a city to voters, as early as spring 2017.

A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham become a City with a mayor.

A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham have a city manager and a city council and eliminate Town Meeting.

A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham reduce the number of elected Town Meeting member and keep its Town form of Government.

In fact, there are dozens of options the Commission could recommend to voters on a future ballot.

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Photo By Janet Leombruno