SOS voices support for charter change
The Portsmouth Save Our Schools organization distributed an e-mail this morning urging their members to sign on to the Carcellar's letter to the Town Council supporting the Charter change. From the SOS letter:
On January 24th, the Town Council held a workshop on proposed changes to the charter to replace the current tent meeting process with one involving a special election. This proposal would require petitioners to state on the petition what was being called for in terms of modifications to the town budget. A petition that got 10% of the signatures would be placed on a special election ballot. The special election would allow all citizens to cast their votes, to do so in secret, and to make an informed vote. This charter change will require a special election. To avoid a tent meeting this summer, this election has to happen quickly.
Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, the group that successfully brought the last tent meeting, was present in strength. Their constituency is doing what it can to delay the required special election by proposing charter review committees, adding other issues to the special election, etc. This is no doubt with an eye towards another tent meeting next year. They are very vocal at Town Council meetings, have well organized letter writing campaigns, and their voice does make an impact on the town council...
It is imperative that the people of Portsmouth make themselves heard on this issue. If you can't come to town council meetings, this is best done by mailing letters to the town council members.
The specifics of the proposed change, along with pre-written letters of support, can be found at:
A large number of such letters will have a direct impact on the Town Council's actions.
As Larry Fitzmorris says, "Democracy is made by those who show up." Let's all show up.
Comments
Chris Myers
Wed, 02/07/2007 - 10:45am
Permalink
Concerns about the proposed amendment
Hi John,
I read through the proposed amendment, and a couple of things concern me:
1) Any registered voter can sign any and all petitions in circulation: "There shall be no limit to the number of separate petitions which an elector may sign."
2) Any petition which achieves the 10% sign rate will make it to the ballot.
These two items combined means it's possible that there are multiple dollar amounts to vote for on any one ballot:
"electors shall be instructed to vote either for the original total or for one (1) of the proposed increases or decreases thereof. The appropriation receiving the most votes shall be declared to have been adopted."
and then the one with the most votes will have to be acted upon by the Town Council or School Commitee:
"In the event that an increase or a decrease in the School Department Budget and/or the Town Budget is approved by the electors at such referendum, the Town Council shall cause the total amount of said budgets to be adjusted"
This could still possibly get us in the same bind we are right now, with a cut that is not legal, or an increase that is not fundable.
I am certainly in favor of eliminating the Tent Meeting provision in the town's charter, but the above proposed provisions concern me.
Any thoughts, John (or anyone else)??
-Chris
John McDaid
Wed, 02/07/2007 - 1:17pm
Permalink
These are valid concerns...
Hey, Chris...
Thanks for the comment!
Absolutely right, there is a risk of having multiple petitions with differing numbers on the ballot (the PCC actually raised this with the Town Council, since they fear that having multiple choices could result in none gaining a morjority, which would leave the status quo budget.) In practical terms, however, I'm not sure this would happen -- even the PCC said that they had a hard time meeting the deadline for the petition, and they were ready to jump on it. I doubt there would realistically be multiple petitions, but it is a risk.
About the risk of underfunding -- that's a real one. I personally would like to see a charter change that specifically acknowledges the precedence of the Caruolo Act in the event of another illegal budget. But, well, politics is the art of the possible...
Cheers.
-john