Ordinance committee backs shortening planning director's term from five to three years

The Brockton City Council Ordinance Committee voted March 31 to recommend an ordinance that would change the appointment term for the city's director of Planning and Economic Development from five years to three.

Mayor Moises Rodriguez urged the change, saying a three-year term would align the planning director's appointment with other department heads and create consistent accountability between mayoral appointment and council confirmation. "I think it's important for us to keep it uniform," he said, arguing the shorter term gives the city an opportunity to replace a director who is not performing without being "stuck" by a longer contract.

Councilors questioned whether a shorter term could limit applicants. "We're looking for a very high-quality planner''one of the best and the brightest'and I think moving this down from five to three years, we're going to lose a lot of people who may be interested," said Councilor Griffin. The council discussed tradeoffs between recruitment and the desire for consistent term lengths across departments.

City Solicitor James O'Brien told the committee that state law provides a process for removal of department heads and that a dismissal for cause would require the council's majority and a statement of reasons. "It says the person so removed shall receive a copy of the reasons for his removal, and he may contest the same before the city council," he said, citing the statute.

After discussion, a motion to recommend the change favorably to the full city council passed by voice vote.

The committee's recommendation moves the ordinance to the full council for additional consideration and any required readings. The solicitor emphasized that nothing in the measure changes the city's ability to dismiss a department head for cause and that the council would retain an adjudicative role if a removal occurred.