10/17/2011 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Article 3, Section 3-6, Paragraph A—Town Moderator, Mode of Election, Term of Office will be amended by the following language to change the length of term for this elected position: "term of two years"will replace current language of"term of three years" Article 3, Section 3-7, Paragraph A —Planning Board, Composition, Mode of Election, Term of Office will be amended by the following language to change the length of term for this elected position: "terms of four years"will replace current language of"term of three years" Article 3, Section 3-8, Paragraph A — Mashpee Housing Authority, Composition, Mode of Appointment and Election, Term of Office will be amended by the following language to change the length of term for this elected position: "terms of four years"will replace current language of"term of three years Or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by Petition Explanation: This article would move the annual Town general election which is held on the first Saturday in May following the Town's Annual Meeting (which typically places the general election on Mother's Day weekend) to November effective in 2013. This would also change the Town general elections from being held annually to being held bi-annual every two (2) years in the odd-numbered years (i.e., 2013, 2015, etc.), opposite the even years (i.e., 2014, 2016, etc.) when there are Massachusetts State elections. The historical turnout for the May Town election has been very low compared to the number of people voting in the November State and Presidential elections. This change would also reduce some of the costs incurred by the Town for holding an election each May and then again in some years in November, a savings to the Town of approximately $5,000. This change would also reduce the impact on the Schools by eliminating a day during the school week that was previously needed to setup the election equipment in May. The terms for all elected officials on the multi-member bodies (Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Planning Board) would change from three (3) years to four (4) in order to coincide with a bi-annual election format. The terms for singular positions in the Town government structure (Town Clerk and Town Moderator) would change from three (3) years to two (2) years. The terms for elected officials on the multi-member Mashpee Housing Authority would change from five (5) years to four (4) years in order to coincide and be consistent with a bi-annual election format. The change in terms would start with a transition period with the first bi-annual elections to be held in November 2013. Elected positions whose terms would start in November 2013 will be determined by a random drawing to be held no later than January 4, 2013. The remaining unexpired terms for all currently elected positions would be adjusted accordingly based on the results of the random drawing to coincide with the new bi-annual election format (i.e., a term that is currently set to expire in May of 2013 would be extended to November 2013). 33