Dorchester council introduces charter amendment resolutions

CAMBRIDGE — The Dorchester County Council has introduced eight resolutions that could ultimately result in changes to the county charter if the resolutions are passed and county residents vote for the changes in November.

On March 5, the Dorchester County Charter Review Committee gave a presentation on its recommended changes to the county charter. Later that month, the council held an open comment period for residents to comment on the recommended changes.

Those eight proposed changes were introduced as resolutions at the council meeting on July 2. The council will hold a public hearing on all of the resolutions at its meeting on July 16 before voting on each one. Any resolutions that are passed will be included as referendums on the November ballot.

At the meeting July 2, Council Vice President Mike Detmer said residents’ voices need to be heard at the public hearing on July 16.

“I think we’ve done the right thing by continuing to move these (items) forward,” he said. “This is the public’s time to be heard.”

The eight resolutions, which the council voted to introduce, are to:

Add language that solidifies the differences between the county manager’s responsibilities and the council’s responsibilities.Remove the residency requirement for the county manager.Remove the residency requirement for the director of finance.Require an administrative review to take place the first fiscal year of each new council.Change the due date for the proposed county budget from May 1 to May 15.Change the due date for the adoption of the county budget from June 1 to June 15.Add language to ensure transparency.Limit council members to three consecutive four-year terms.

The council voted unanimously to introduce each resolution, except for the resolution that would limit council members’ terms. Council member William Nichols voted against introducing that resolution.

This proposed change was discussed by the council at both March council meetings. At those meetings, Nichols, who has been on the council since 1994, spoke against having term limits.

“You’re taking the will of the people away,” he said on March 5.

Regarding the draft resolution to change the budget presentation and adoption due dates, Council President Lenny Pfeffer said the council is considering modifying the ballot questions to make them one single question. He said there is concern that if the two questions are voted on differently, it “could create a quagmire.”

Pfeffer said all of the resolutions that were introduced will be posted on the county website. He said the county will also provide draft ballot questions so that residents can weigh in on them at the public hearing on July 16.