Home Rule Charter of 1972

Home Rule Charter of 1972
TypeGovernment
DateMarch 4, 1972


Billerica adopted its first home rule charter at the town election of March 4, 1972, five years after it hired its first executive secretary to the Select Board. The charter was replaced in 1979 (see Home Rule Charter of 1979). Through all of it the five-member board of selectmen and the Adoption of Representative Town Meeting of 1955 remained.

The first step was a hired administrator. The selectmen wrote in 1967 that "at a previous Town Meeting (1957) the position of Executive Secretary to the Board of Selectmen was authorized," but no money had been voted until that year, when "our Town Meeting Representatives saw the need for such a position and voted the necessary funds." Francis X. Corliss became the first executive secretary on November 6, 1967. He was followed by Daniel P. Melillo, appointed November 30, 1970, and Edwin G. Beane, who left the veterans' office in December 1974 to take the post. The same years saw the first try at a charter. At the election of March 4, 1967, while seventeen candidates ran for a charter commission, the question of creating one lost, 1,556 to 1,702.

The second try succeeded. On March 6, 1971 the voters answered yes, 3,308 to 1,142, to the question "Shall a Commission be elected to form a Charter for the Town of Billerica?" and elected nine of seventeen candidates, led by John F. Monahan (2,734 votes), Henry F. Collins, Town Clerk Mildred A. Westhaver, former Moderator Marion D. Gould, Stanley J. Bocko, Arthur R. Hallenborg, Paul F. Newman, John T. Glavine and Suzanne M. McCarthy. Town meeting gave the commission $3,000 and later $1,392 more. Its charter went on the ballot of March 4, 1972 as "Shall this Town approve the new Charter recommended by the Charter Commission?" and carried, 3,171 to 1,936. The Billerica Home Rule Charter moved the annual town meeting to the first Saturday in April, made the moderator a town meeting member at large, and had each precinct delegation elect a chairman and a clerk. Town meeting soon began to amend it, enlarging the Conservation Commission from five members to seven in 1973 (120 to 28); a 1977 amendment to make the town treasurer an appointed officer failed of the needed two-thirds, 58 to 89.


People


References

  1. Billerica town report 1967 (1965-1967 vol.), Board of Selectmen: Executive Secretary authorized in 1957 but unfunded; funds voted in 1967 and Francis Corliss appointed.
  2. Billerica town report 1967, election of March 4, 1967: charter commission candidates and Question #1, Yes 1,556, No 1,702.
  3. Billerica town report 1971 (1969-1972 vol.), election of March 6, 1971: votes for the seventeen charter commission candidates.
  4. Billerica town report 1971, election of March 6, 1971: Question #1 (elect a charter commission), Yes 3,308, No 1,142.
  5. Billerica town report 1971, warrant for the election of March 4, 1972: question 'Shall this Town approve the new Charter recommended by the Charter Commission?'
  6. Billerica town report 1972, election of March 4, 1972: question results; the charter question (third) Yes 3,171, No 1,936.
  7. Billerica town report 1973, Town Clerk: annual town meeting held the first Saturday in April according to the new charter.
  8. Billerica town report 1973, annual town meeting Articles 9 and 10: Home Rule Charter amended (Conservation Commission five to seven, 120 to 28).