CHICOPEE, Mass. — The Chicopee City Council voted unanimously on May 29 to file an amended home-rule petition with the Massachusetts General Court seeking to change the mayoral term in Chicopee from two years to four years.

The council approved language amending the petition’s title and clarifying timing: the petition, if enacted by the Legislature and approved by Chicopee voters, would place the change on the municipal ballot this November and, if the voters approve, the four-year term would apply beginning with the municipal election in 2027 (the mayor elected in 2027 would take office the first Monday in January following that election).

When asked for a legal clarification during public discussion, the City Attorney said, “This is a home rule petition. Goes to the legislature, comes back for a vote,” explaining the two-step process: the council files the petition with the Legislature, which must pass enabling legislation; if the Legislature approves, the change then goes before Chicopee voters on a municipal ballot.

Council members moved to amend section 1 and section 4 of the proposed order and the motion to amend passed. The roll call votes on the amendments and on passage of the order both recorded 11 yes votes. The council president said clerical or editorial changes short of substance would be allowed when the petition is filed with the General Court.

During discussion, councilors asked whether a mayor elected in the upcoming November election would receive a four-year term if voters approved the petition; the council clarified that, even if voters approve the change this November, the first four-year mayoral term would result from the 2027 municipal election and take effect after that election.

The petition text the council approved invokes clause 1 of Section 8 of Article 2 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to authorize submission of the special bill to the Legislature. The council’s action on May 29 was to approve the filing of the petition and the accompanying bill; it does not itself change term lengths without subsequent legislative and voter approval.

Because the petition must be enacted by the Legislature and accepted by Chicopee voters, the practical effect depends on actions outside the council’s control: the Legislature’s approval and then a majority vote by Chicopee residents on the municipal ballot. The council’s approval moves the city into that formal process.