Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Several communities had charter change proposals on their ballots on Nov. 8.
Voters in Everett approved charter changes to extend the mayoral term to four years and replace the city’s unique bicameral legislature with a single, 11-member City Council. The changes will take effect with the 2013 city election.
Voters in Newburyport also extended the mayoral term from two years to four, also taking effect with the 2013 election.
Voters in Methuen overwhelmingly defeated a proposal to eliminate its term limits rule. Elected officials have a lifetime limit of three, two-year terms.
Methuen and Lawrence are the only communities in the state with term limits.
Amesbury, which adopted a city form of government in 1996, voted to change its identity in the charter from “the city known as the town of Amesbury” to “the city of Amesbury.”
Winthrop voted to require town council confirmation of all department heads.