Council Amends Charter Home‑Rule Petition, Sets Mayor Limit at Three 4‑Year Terms; Sends Measure to Mayor

The Everett City Council amended and approved a home‑rule petition to add term limits to the city charter and referred the petition to the mayor to forward to the state legislature.

The petition, as amended on the floor, would limit city council and school committee members to six consecutive two‑year terms and the mayor to three consecutive four‑year terms. The measure also includes a waiting period: an official who completes the maximum consecutive terms must sit out one full term before becoming eligible to run again for the same office.

Councilors debated the appropriate limit for the mayor during an extended floor discussion. Some members argued two mayoral terms would be too short; others said the pubic should decide the change by ballot. Councilor Smith moved and the body approved amending the mayoral cap from two to three four‑year terms.

Supporters said the change standardizes maximum service at 12 years for elected offices and creates a predictable rotation; opponents said voters, not the council, should determine term limits and that councilors who perform well should be able to continue to serve. The council also discussed exceptions: the ordinance text specifies that service to fill an appointed or special‑election vacancy does not count as a full term for the purpose of the limit.

A roll‑call vote on the amended home‑rule petition produced a majority in favor. The council recorded nine yeas and two nays on the final motion, and the petition was sent to the mayor for signature as required by state process. The mayor’s signature is required before the city may forward a home‑rule petition to the state legislature; if signed, the petition will then go through the state legislative process.

Councilors agreed to continue discussing the proposal’s details with the public and with the charter review materials already prepared by the Charter Review Committee.