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Legislative Matters Committee advances charter-alignment changes, deletes Constable confirmation language
Summary
The Somerville Legislative Matters Committee recommended several ordinance amendments to align local code with the city's recently adopted charter and voted to delete an ordinance section governing constable confirmation; the committee also laid acceptance of M.G.L. ch. 41, §91 on the table for full council approval.
JT Scott, Ward 2 councilor and chair of the Legislative Matters Committee, presided over the committee's Feb. 17 meeting and moved to recommend several ordinance amendments intended to bring the city's code into alignment with the charter adopted after the last municipal election. "This will help ensure a clear standard for when these actions should be taken," Analyst Bridal Salisbury told the committee about added convening dates and a report deadline for the required review of multi‑member bodies.
Why it matters: The package clarifies how multi‑member bodies will be reviewed every 10 years as required by the charter and adjusts council rules that previously lacked explicit timing. The changes also affect how the city handles constable appointments: Salisbury said that, under current state law, the city does not have the authority to appoint constables until it accepts the enabling Mass. General Law.
Salisbury recommended removing the entirety of section 10‑20 of the Code of Ordinances, which had attempted to set confirmation language that conflicts with state law. Chair Scott moved to amend the ordinance by deleting that section; the committee approved the amendment in committee by roll call with three councilors recorded in favor. The committee then laid the amended item and a separate request to accept M.G.L. chapter 41, section 91 (the statute governing appointment and removal of constables) on the table for approval in a single roll‑call vote at the meeting's end.
On procedure and scope: Committee members discussed continuity clauses in the charter and how specific charter provisions prevail over more general ordinance text. Salisbury said the administration will decide whether residency requirements for constables might be appropriate to include in the forthcoming administrative code and recommended consulting the city attorney on that question.
What happens next: The committee recommended approval of the amended ordinance language and the acceptance of M.G.L. chapter 41, §91, to be recorded by single roll call at the conclusion of the meeting and forwarded to the full City Council for final action.
