Home Rule Charter of 1979

The Home Rule Charter of 1979, approved by the voters on March 3, 1979, replaced the town's first charter (see Home Rule Charter of 1972) and created the office of town administrator, renamed Town Manager in 1997 (see Town Manager Charter Amendment of 1997).

A second charter commission was elected on March 4, 1978, under Chairman Paul R. Kelley, Vice Chairman William G. Greene Jr. and Clerk Ralph J. McKenna, with Walter W. Arakelian, Austin P. Bent, John G. Conway, Charles L. Hallenborg, Bernard F. Hoar and Raymond F. McColough; town meeting transferred $5,600 for its expenses that year. Its charter was Question 1 at the election of March 3, 1979. The ballot summary explained that the selectmen, the representative town meeting and the School Committee "would remain as they are, and as they have been; the offices of treasurer, collector, board of assessors, board of health, sewer commissioners, and constables would be filled by appointment (rather than by election); the existing position of executive secretary is expanded and made responsible for many new functions, under a new title of town administrator; new provisions detailing budget make-up, budget review and budget adoption are included." It passed in a close vote, 2,478 to 2,150, with 250 blanks, carrying nine of the thirteen precincts.

Under the new charter the town administrator was chosen by the selectmen from candidates screened by a committee drawn from the selectmen, the Planning Board, the Finance Committee, the Personnel Board and the chairmen of the precinct delegations to town meeting, each choosing two members and the precinct chairmen three. Howard J. Ralston served as executive secretary during the change, and Paul F. Talbot was appointed the first Town Administrator on July 25, 1979 and served until he retired on September 27, 1991; Evelyn M. Haines was appointed his transitional aide in December 1979. Robert A. Mercier succeeded Talbot in 1991.

People

• Paul R. Kelley: Chairman of the charter commission elected in 1978 that wrote the 1979 charter.
• William G. Greene Jr.: Vice chairman of the 1978 charter commission.
• Ralph J. McKenna: Clerk of the 1978 charter commission.
• Walter W. Arakelian: Member of the 1978 charter commission.
• Austin P. Bent: Member of the 1978 charter commission.
• John G. Conway: Member of the 1978 charter commission.
• Charles L. Hallenborg: Member of the 1978 charter commission.
• Bernard F. Hoar: Member of the 1978 charter commission.
• Raymond F. McColough: Moderator and member of the 1978 charter commission.
• Howard J. Ralston: Acting and then executive secretary in 1979, during the change to the new charter.
• Paul F. Talbot: First town administrator under the 1979 charter, appointed July 25, 1979.
• Evelyn M. Haines: Appointed transitional aide under the new charter in December 1979, later assistant town manager.
• Robert A. Mercier: Town administrator from 1991 who became the first to hold the title of town manager in 1997.

References

1. Billerica town report 1978, list of officers: Charter Commission, Paul R. Kelley, Chairman, William G. Greene Jr., Vice-Chairman, Ralph J. McKenna, Clerk, and others.
2. Billerica town report 1979, warrant for the election of March 3, 1979: Question No. 1 on the new charter, with the summary creating the town administrator.
3. Billerica town report 1979, town election of March 3, 1979 by precincts: Question #1 (Charter), Yes 2,478, No 2,150, Blanks 250.
4. Billerica town report 1980: charter procedure for a committee to screen candidates for town administrator, drawn from boards and precinct chairmen.