Letter to NS TC: Charter Ballot Questions

ON AUGUST 16th I SENT THE LETTER BELOW TO MEMBERS OF THE NORTH SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE NOVEMBER CHARTER BALLOT QUESTIONS:

To: North Smithfield Town Council members Re: Ballot Questions Date: August 16, 2018

I would like to be on the record with the Town Council about my concerns regarding the proposed Charter revisions.

As I stated at the last Town #Council meeting, despite my familiarity with the Town Charter gained by serving on a #Charter Review Committee in 2010, I have found it extremely difficult to determine what exactly is being changed in the Charter and how it will impact the operation of government. Upon further review of the document you approved at your August 6, 2018 meeting, I am extremely concerned with the language and format used in the proposed ballot.

In total, 7 of the 12 charter questions which were on the 2014 #ballot and one question from the 2010 ballot will be put before the voters once again in November. The Charter questions you have voted to put before the voters this fall modify, negate or weaken charter changes just approved by voters in 2014. There was logic and reason for the specific wording for each of the 2014 changes that have been ignored in the proposed new language, and the intent of the 2014 charter changes has been undermined. Many of the 2014 charter changes were intended to add a layer of checks and balance to local government, but that will be effectively eliminated if the ballot questions are approved in November.

One of the 2014 charter changes up for reconsideration on this year’s ballot was approved by 73.8% of the voters and another approved by 65.1% of the voters. Rather than placing these changes before the voters as stand-alone questions on this year’s ballot, as they were in 2014, they are conveniently buried within question 10 on this year’s ballot. Question 10 doesn’t just negate one of the 2014 ballot questions; it impacts several.

Question 10 states: “Shall the Charter be amended to update provisions and conform to state law as well as current practice”. It’s disingenuous to classify many of the changes contained in question 10 as simply updating and changing language to conform to state law and reflect current practices. This ballot language will mislead voters. There is absolutely no reason why many of the changes contained in question 10 couldn’t have been listed as separate ballot questions this fall.

I applaud Councilor McGee for voting against the resolution to place these proposals on the ballot and admire him for refusing to even sign the Council resolution. I firmly believe several of these questions are being placed on the ballot simply to satisfy those who were unhappy with the choices made by town voters in 2014.

As Councilor McGee stated at a recent Council meeting when referencing one ballot question “You bring it up enough times until you win, that’s all I’m saying.” Hopefully, the confusing format and deceptive choice of wording in these ballot questions will raise a red flag and cause town voters to reject the ballot questions. This ballot in no way exemplifies transparency.

Mike Clifford

#towncouncil #charterreview #charterreviewcommittee #crc #northsmithfield #ballotquestion #election