Town Moderator Proposing Increasing Term from 1 to 3 Years

Town Moderator Teri Banerjee is proposing increasing her position’s term from a one-year elected position by voters to a 3-year term.

The Government Study Committee, a standing committee of Town Meeting members, heard her proposal, and endorsed the ideas unanimously 8-0.

The change would be a by-law change for the Town of Framingham.

Banerjee in her presentation to the Government Study Committee, earlier this summer, identified what she saw as the pros and cons of the proposal.

Banerjee said the position should increase from being elected by registered voters annually to every year to bring it in line with other elected town officials. Selectmen, School Committee and Planning Board members are all elected to 3-year terms in Framingham.

In her presentation to the Government Study Committee, Banerjee identified the following pros to the change:

• Having a seasoned Town Moderator is an advantage to Town Meeting and he/she may work harder and be more effective if unopposed.
• Incumbent knows by December if there will be a challenger and not having to run every year avoids unnecessary distractions.
• An incumbent Town Moderator can begin preparations prior to the annual April town election
  
• There can be a challenger annually to the Moderator, leading to constant distraction
• Current Town Moderator needs to collect 50 signatures from registered voters annually to get on the ballot, even if there is not a challenger. Other office holders only have to collect signatures every three years.

Banerjee explains to the Committee, the following cons:

• Town Meeting may have to put up with an unpopular/unacceptable Moderator for 3 years
• Town Moderator may have less incentive/motivation to perform and improve his.her performance
• Town Moderator may be reluctant to perform work until after annual Town Election in April, in case the election is lost

The Government Study Committee is now proposing a by-law change article for the October Special Town Meeting.

Town Meeting years ago was asked to increase the Town Moderator’s term from 1 to 2 years and rejected a proposal.

Former Town Moderator Edward Noonan, whom Banerjee replaced after his death, opposed increasing the term beyond one year, at the time of the last proposed change.

Banerjee was appointed to replace Noonan by Framingham Selectmen in 2012. She ran unopposed for her first term as Town Moderator in 2012, and has run unopposed each year since for re-election.