New Bedford mayor proposes process to recall elected officials, needs council, state OK

NEW BEDFORD — Mayor Jon Mitchell is proposing the city enact a procedure to recall elected officials that will require state approval.

The home rule petition will also need an OK from the City Council. The council's Ordinance Committee took a look at the proposal Wednesday.

Mitchell stated in a letter to the City Council that the bar should be high for such a recall since it, in effect, negates an election's results.

His recall proposal would require:

• Signatures of 600 voters to initiate a recall petition for an officer elected at large (and a minimum of 100 signatures from each ward), and 100 voters to initiate a recall petition for an officer elected by ward;
• That once the petition is certified by the elections office, at least 15% of the registered voters must sign the recall petition itself to place the recall question on the ballot;
• That in order for the recall election to be effective, 15% of the registered voters must vote in the recall election.

Councilor Maria Giesta said she thought 100 signatures was too low for the ward recall.

Councilor Linda Morad agreed, adding that 600 signatures was too low for at large, as well, and that the 15% provision also seemed too low.

Morad added that all the terms should be the same — councilors have two-year terms while the mayor now has a four-year term — before the council should consider these recall provisions.

Council President Naomi Carney said it was "ridiculous" to include councilors in the recall when they have only two-year terms. It would be different if councilors had four-year terms, she said. It's otherwise a waste of time and money, she added.

Committee Chairman Ryan Pereira said he would be offering an amendment to the proposal at a future meeting.

His recommendation to table the item in the meantime so councilors can seek more information was approved by the committee.