Danvers committee narrows citizen recall petition language, approves Section 2 and several provisions

The Town Meeting/Town Manager Acts Review Committee on Dec. 18, 2024 adopted amended language for the citizen recall petition after extended debate over whether recall grounds should be limited to actions while in office.

The committee’s action centered on Section 2, a redline prepared by member John Almeida. Almeida proposed general (non‑enumerated) grounds reserved to voter judgment but with explicit language stating the expectation that the recall process “would only be used to address serious malfeasance or misconduct,” while leaving the final determination to voters. After an initial tie on a proposed amendment to remove the clause excluding prior acts, members caucused briefly and then approved the revised Section 2.

Why it matters: The text the committee approved defines the scope and threshold for recalls in the Town of Danvers. The choices the committee made—keeping broad wording on grounds while adding an explanatory sentence—seek to balance two risks the members debated: avoiding frivolous recalls and preserving voters’ ability to…