Question 1 - Charter Amendment

Shall the City adopt Chapter 31 of the Acts of 2025 an act passed by the general court in the year 2025 entitled: An Act establishing a charter for the City of Somerville? SUMMARY This question proposes acceptance of a special act passed by the state legislature at the request of the city. If accepted by a majority of the voters, the special legislation would repeal the current charter and would adopt Chapter 31 of the Acts of 2025, creating a new charter for the city. The charter is the city's governing document. The current charter was first approved by the Commonwealth as a special act and was accepted by Somerville voters in 1899. It has been amended by additional special acts over time. The proposed charter establishes the city's structure, organization and operations, including the city's executive and legislative branches. The proposed charter maintains the existing form of government, retaining the executive and legislative branches and the existing composition of the city council and school committee. City councilors, school committee members and the mayor would continue to serve two-year terms. The proposed charter establishes a timeframe by which the city council must vote to confirm certain appointments of the mayor. The proposed charter requires an annual independent outside audit and authorizes the city council to expand the scope of the audit to include a particular department, division, or program. The proposed charter specifies the annual operating budget must be submitted by May 30 of each year and requires public hearings and joint meetings of the city council and the school committee. The proposed charter also authorizes the city council to secure advisory legal counsel and to employ staff. The proposed charter also provides for the review of the charter, ordinances and boards and commissions at least once every 10 years and creates committees to study and prepare recommendations regarding public financing of campaigns and ranked choice voting implementation.