Governing Westwood: Town Charter Revisions on Ballot April 24

It’s time to mark your calendars again – Westwood’s annual town election will be held on Tuesday, April 24. In addition to and several uncontested races, this year’s ballot includes a question asking Westwood voters to approve the first changes to our town charter since 1970.

The ballot question is the final step in a process that began in the fall of 2009 when the Board of Selectmen appointed a Government and Charter Study Task Force (“Task Force”) to study the existing charter.

The Task Force’s process included a review of relevant Massachusetts law and other town charters, as well as interviews with elected and appointed officials, and more than 25 public hearings at which the Task Force discussed all aspects of the charter and solicited feedback from citizens. 

The Task Force concluded that Westwood functions well but identified several areas where the charter could be improved, including:

• Increasing access to the Town Meeting process, including an optional pre-petition process and a second Town Meeting during the fall (unless it is determined not to be needed in a given year)
• Better documenting and codifying existing governmental processes, including the duties of the Town Administrator, Finance Director, Municipal Finance Department, and associate board members
• Clarifying language, including consolidating references to common processes (e.g., recall provision)
• Incorporating modern “best practices” such as a periodic charter review

The resulting revisions have since been approved by Westwood’s Annual Town Meeting (2011), as well as both branches of the state legislature, and have been signed by Governor Patrick. The revised charter now comes for final approval before taking effect.

Leading up to Town Meeting last year, the Finance Commission reviewed and held its own public hearing on the proposed changes. The FinCom recommended in favor of the changes, concluding that the revised charter will serve to provide more transparency, accountability and governmental access for the Town.

FinCom’s complete opinion on the revised charter can be found in the Finance Commission’s 2011 Annual Town Meeting Report to Residents. The charter question begins on page 28 of the PDF, and the FinCom’s opinion begins on page 48.