Time has run out on forming a charter commission this year, with a bid to put it on the November ballot failing Monday in a vote that split along party lines.
Some city councilors had hoped to put the questions of whether to form a charter commission and who would serve on it to voters in November, when the presidential election would ensure a high voter turnouts.
When councilors last discussed the issue in committee in February, City Council President Brendan Rielly had said he would like to see the commission remove the mayor’s control of City Council meeting agendas and his power to veto City Council decisions. The Committee of the Whole voted 6-0 to recommend the city hold a referendum in November.
However, with the power to set City Council agendas still in the hands of the mayor, the issue did not appear until the meeting Monday, when Mayor Bruce Chuluda was the only one to speak before a quick vote.
“I think our charter’s fine, and our form of government’s fine,” he said. “There are many more important things to do.”
The measure failed in a 3-3 vote, with Democrats Rielly, Dotty Aube and Mike Foley voting to set the referendum and Republicans Lyle Cramer, John O’Hara and Chuluda voting against it. Councilors Drew Gattine and Suzanne Joyce, both Democrats who previously supported forming the charter commission, were not at the meeting.
Monday’s meeting was the last opportunity for the Municipal Officers to set the date, because state statute requires 90 days’ notice.
Gattine, who was on vacation in Italy, said in an e-mail he was still on the fence on the issue, but likely would have voted to put it on the November ballot.
Gattine, chairman of the Committee of the Whole, said the item should have been on a City Council agenda sooner, considering it had been discussed by the committee in February.
A charter commission would consist of six elected members and three members who are appointed by the City Council. A commission would convene for a year to review the existing charter and make recommendations about changes, which could significantly alter the way Westbrook’s government operates. The commission’s recommendations would have to be approved by voters.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
