Westbrook voters on Nov. 6 have an opportunity to revise the city charter in a way to make the ruling document more modern, more clear and more efficient.
The revisions included in the ballot question are the result of more than two years of work. Voters approved the formation of the Westbrook Charter Commission at the ballot on June 8, 2010, and on Nov. 2, 2010, elected the members of that body. The commission held its first meeting on Jan. 13, 2011, and since then has held a series of public hearings and workshops culminating in the list of recommendations that appear on the Nov. 6 ballot as a single, yes-or-no referendum question.
The most significant revision deals with the terms served by public officeholders in Westbrook. If passed, the terms for city councilors and mayor will increase from two years to three years, while terms for school committee members will drop from four years to three. Also, City Council terms will be staggered, so that the entire council is not up for re-election at the same time.
This change would be beneficial on all counts. Two-year terms are too short to allow newly elected officials to figure out how things work in a way to benefit the community. The short terms also do not allow officials to carry out a project or initiative of any depth. Four-year terms, on the other hand, represent a significant commitment for a body made up of citizen members, and may deter good candidates from coming forward at all.
Staggering terms will put Westbrook in line with almost every other community. They will allow for continuity and ensure that experience remains on the board in some way. The staggered terms will also mean that local ballots will not be swamped with candidates every few years, allowing voters to focus on the smaller number of races each election.
The charter revisions also clarify the mayor’s authority to reorganize city departments, including hiring and firing of city employees, with the exception of the city clerk. This part of the charter caused problems in 2010, when Mayor Colleen Hilton unilaterally dismissed Fire Chief Daniel Brock, leading to questions regarding whether the mayor had that power. Brock sued, and the case was settled out of court for $320,000.
Updating this language not only saves the city from having that problem again, it also makes all city employees equal under the mayor’s power. Westbrook’s strong-mayor form of government is an asset when the right person is in place, giving the city an executive who can form a vision for the city and act efficiently toward the vision. This charter change strengthens that ability.
The other major change moves the city clerk position from elected to a professional administrative position, appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. The clerk’s position is a demanding one that calls for a person with a certain set of defined skills. It makes sense to hire that person just as a city hires a planner, engineer or economic development director.
Ben Bragdon, managing editor
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