Fall River Charter Commission

http://www.heraldnews.com/opinion/20181120/letter-to-editor-fall-rivers-home-rule-charter-is-as-good-as-any-other-charter-in-state

Letter to the Editor: Fall River's Home Rule Charter is as good as any other charter in the state I am a School Committee member in Newburyport, serving in that role since 2004, to include two years as vice chair. I was elected to Newburyport’s

Letter to the Editor: Fall River elected officials aren't adhering to the law We are in July of 2018 and the special committee that was supposed to bring the city ordinances into compliance with and fully implement the charter has

Charters set a direction for the city; they generally do not provide significant detail. Once the voters have adopted the charter, it is the responsibility of the city’s officials to “respect” the voters decision and IMPLEMENT the charter by following the standards the charter provides, meet the city’s immediate needs for charter implementation by adhering to the specific directions provided in the charter’s transition article, and amend existing ordinances or write new ordinances so that the charter can be reasonably and consistently followed by the current and future city administrations.

In December 2011, when I started the home rule charter process with a small group of supporters, I believed it was much needed. People were asking for change. And in 2015, people supported that notion, when 9,318 voted to revise the city charter and elect a charter commission. And in November 2017, I am more convinced than ever that the city needs a new charter.

Most of the elected commissioners believe that the totality of the changes proposed represents an improvement to Fall River's government. So, it is with a strong conviction that I support the proposed Home Rule Charter.

Please join me in voting “YES” for the charter. You are not just voting for a new charter; you are voting for a better Fall River! This is a “unique opportunity”, a historic occasion that obviously does not present itself often, but one that can certainly put Fall River on a solid course for the future.