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Danvers holds public hearings on multiple charter revisions; debate centers on town meeting size, manager residency and recall rules
Summary
Select Board public hearings on the Town Meeting Act, Town Manager Act and recall bylaw prompted robust public comment: residents disagreed about shrinking town meeting seats, required manager residency (board agreed to require Commonwealth residency), and recall language that would exclude removal simply for votes except conflict‑of‑interest cases.
The Select Board used its Dec. 16 meeting to hold three public hearings on proposed charter and bylaw revisions: the Town Meeting Act, Town Manager Act and the recall bylaw. Each hearing drew residents, town meeting members and committee representatives who urged changes or clarified the committee’s recommendations.
On the Town Meeting Act, a central point of debate was whether to reduce the number of town meeting members per precinct from 18 to 15. Committee members and some town meeting members argued 15 could improve deliberation and participation; others warned reduction could be perceived as limiting representation. Town records reviewed…
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