(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Jack Connolly
Jackconnolly422@gmail.com

Since 1918, Massachusetts voters have enjoyed the constitutional rights of initiative and referendum.  Because of this, voters have been able to propose new state laws they deem necessary and appropriate and challenge those laws they believe to be unworthy of their support.

Many important state laws have been enacted because of the right of initiative.  Among the most recent are the law allowing the sale and personal use of recreational marijuana and the so-called millionaire surtax law.

To ensure that the rights of initiative and referendum could be fully and fairly implemented, the Legislature enacted Chapter 54, Section 53 of the General Laws.  This statute requires the Secretary of State to mail each household with a registered voter a summary of the proposed ballot measure(s) they are being asked to vote upon at the upcoming general election, together with arguments for and against such measure(s).

Curiously, there is no similar statute requiring cities and towns to mail voters’ information when they place binding questions on their general election ballot.  There is, however, a statute, Chapter 53, Section 18B of the General Laws, that requires local governments to mail such information to voters, but only if this statute is accepted by the municipality. 

For thoroughly inexplicable reasons, the city council and Mayor Ballantyne failed to include any language in the proposed city charter home rule petition that would have ensured that voters are mailed information about the charter prior to the November 4 election.  This mistake could have easily been rectified by the city council’s acceptance of Chapter 53, Section 18B.  The city council’s stonewalling on this issue must cease. and move forward immediately!

The Somerville City Council can and should vote this week to accept this statute without any further delay.  The voters they represent deserve to know what is in the proposed city charter and be given the reason(s) to vote for or against its approval.

House Bill 4445, the proposed city charter legislation, sits in the state senate committee on bills in the third reading.  Its passage is now in the hands of state senator Patricia Jehlen.

Although it would not be ideal, Senator Jehlen should delay final Senate action on House 4445 unless and until the Somerville City Council and Mayor Ballantyne do what is in the best interest of Somerville’s voters.  And that is: accept Chapter 53, Section 18B. 

Not to do so would be a travesty of transparency.

Jack Connolly is a native Somervillian, a Davis Sq. resident and insurance agent: He is also a former Somerville Ward Six and At Large Alderman (known now as City Councilor).