|
Home
This Data Should make you want to fight for your future. |
The Turning Point (1985) |
North Adams is due for a industrial revolutionEffects on Society:
|
The local workforce size sits at roughly 5,600 to 6,100 active participants. in 2020
North Adams Workforce facts
The Year 1990 we had 16797
and in 2020 6,100 Jobs Lost 10,697 With a medium hh income averaged $41,875 / equates to $447,936,875 over 10 years $4.4 Billion taken out of the community. How is this success? If it helps in 2025 the North Adams work force is at 5630 its time to get a real Town manager |
The time is for us to put a stop to this ever failed vision of people that are not even with us today.
While it is impossible to list every small store and diner that closed over a 35-year span, the era between 1985 and 2020 was defined by a massive economic shift in North Adams, Massachusetts. The city transitioned from a powerhouse manufacturing hub into a failed culture- and tourism-driven economy
INTRODUCTION
WITH North Adams’S 2027 In our Near Future, it is worthwhile to release a brief regarding how local government in
the City of North Adams is organized in order to create better informed voters. The North Adams Regional Research Bureau has released several reports on the ins and outs of North Adams government in the past,
Including Considering North Adams's Charter and Bureau Brief—Charting North Adams’s Course. It has written other reports regarding civic engagement in North Adams’s municipal government, including “Don’t Boo. Just remember to
Vote.” Civic Engagement in the City of North Adams (Report 15-02, DTBR) and Absent Voters.
Who is Voting and Not Voting (Yet) in North Adams Municipal Elections (Publication 20-03, DTBR). This year, The Research Bureau has released several briefs on North Adams government in anticipation of the November 2027 Election, including Bureau Brief—Serving on North Adams Boards and Commissions (Brief 23-04, May 2023) and Bureau Brief— North Adams 2027 Election, a Primer (Brief 23-05, DTBR).
This document will outline the powers and responsibilities of the City Council and the City Manager as laid out in
the City Charter.
the City of North Adams is organized in order to create better informed voters. The North Adams Regional Research Bureau has released several reports on the ins and outs of North Adams government in the past,
Including Considering North Adams's Charter and Bureau Brief—Charting North Adams’s Course. It has written other reports regarding civic engagement in North Adams’s municipal government, including “Don’t Boo. Just remember to
Vote.” Civic Engagement in the City of North Adams (Report 15-02, DTBR) and Absent Voters.
Who is Voting and Not Voting (Yet) in North Adams Municipal Elections (Publication 20-03, DTBR). This year, The Research Bureau has released several briefs on North Adams government in anticipation of the November 2027 Election, including Bureau Brief—Serving on North Adams Boards and Commissions (Brief 23-04, May 2023) and Bureau Brief— North Adams 2027 Election, a Primer (Brief 23-05, DTBR).
This document will outline the powers and responsibilities of the City Council and the City Manager as laid out in
the City Charter.
|
A RIGHT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
Each of the 351 cities and towns within Massachusetts are guaranteed the "right of local self-government" in the Massachusetts Constitution, including the ability to adopt, revise, and amend their own structure. Local selfgovernment allows municipalities to make and debate most policies of their own choosing, subject to some limits from state and federal law. Cities may choose charters—essentially, the city's constitution—in accordance with procedure set by the Commonwealth's Constitution and Laws. Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 4 Sec. 7 defines the charter as that which "establishes and defines the structure of the city and town government for a particular community and which may create local offices, and distribute powers, duties, and responsibilities among local offices and which may establish and define certain procedures to be followed by the city or town government." Charters can be adopted, amended, or revised in accordance with Chapter 43 and Chapter 43B of the Massachusetts General Laws, or through a special act by the state legislature. North Adams’s"Home Rule Charter," is essentially a modified version of "Plan E," a model charter found in Chapter 43, Sections 93-116 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 43 includes six different model charters for cities, known as Plans A, B, C, D, E, and F. Cities may choose to adopt a model charter, but there is no requirement that they do. Some of these plans include a mayor as chief executive; others use a City Manager. Plans A, B, and F have a city council and a mayor. The Mayor's powers in A, B, and F differs, but in each the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer and the "Head of the City." The process of election and the size and power of City Council differs in each plan. Plan C is a "commissioner" form of government which is in essence a city council government in which city councilors serve as "commissioners" and heads of department for administration, finance, health, public works, and public property. Each of the 351 cities and towns within Massachusetts are guaranteed the "right of local self-government" in the Massachusetts Constitution, including the ability to adopt, revise, and amend their own structure. Local selfgovernment allows municipalities to make and debate most policies of their own choosing, subject to some limits from state and federal law. Cities may choose charters—essentially, the city's constitution—in accordance with procedure set by the Commonwealth's Constitution and Laws. Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 4 Sec. 7 defines the charter as that which "establishes and defines the structure of the city and town government for a particular community and which may create local offices, and distribute powers, duties, and responsibilities among local offices and which may |
establish and define certain procedures to be followed by the city or town government."
Charters can be adopted, amended, or revised in accordance with Chapter 43 and Chapter 43B of the Massachusetts General Laws, or through a special act by the state legislature. North Adams’s "Home Rule Charter," is essentially a modified version of "Plan E," a model charter found in Chapter 43, Sections 93-116 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 43 includes six different model charters for cities, known as Plans A, B, C, D, E, and F. Cities may choose to adopt a model charter, but there is no requirement that they do. Some of these plans include a mayor as chief executive; others use a City Manager. Plans A, B, and F have a city council and a mayor. The Mayor's powers in A, B, and F differs, but in each the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer and the "Head of the City." The process of election and the size and power of City Council differs in each plan. Plan C is a "commissioner" form of government which is in essence a city council government in which city councilors serve a "commissioners" and heads of department for administration, finance, health, public works, and public property. Two plans, D and E, are known as "Council-Manager" forms of government, and include a city council and mayor, but they also both include a city manager, who takes on the administrative and executive powers found in the mayor and city council in other model charters. In Plans D and E, as written, the City Manager is the "Chief Administrative Officer" of the City (M.G.L Ch. 43 §89; M.G.L Ch. 43 §103), and, in Sections 90 and 104, “shall have and possess, and shall exercise, all the powers, rights and duties, other than legislative” that existed in the form of city government existing prior to adopting Plans D or E. The biggest difference between the two, otherwise, is that in plan D two-thirds of the City Council is required to remove the City Manager whereas in E it takes only a vote of the majority. NORTH ADAMS HOME RULE CHARTER HISTORY North Adams originally adopted the "Plan E" model of local government in 1947, with nine city councilors choosing the mayor and the manager. These nine city councilors were elected in at-large elections through proportional representation. This particular election system, of ranked choice voting for candidates for city council and school committee, was eliminated by voters in 1960. See The Bureau’s previous work, Choosing a Better Voting System: The Argument for Ranked Choice Voting in North Adams and Beyond (Report 19-02, February 2019) for an examination of how this worked in practice. In 1983, North Adams voters decided to reexamine North Adams's Charter, using the Home Rule process found in M.G.L. Chapter 43B, eventually adopting in 1985 a modified version of the Plan E model, which went into effect in 1987. It is not exactly Plan E as defined by M.G.L. Chapter 43. Instead, |
|
Each of the 351 cities and towns within Massachusetts are guaranteed the "right of local self-government" in the Massachusetts Constitution, including the ability to adopt, revise, and amend their own structure. Local self government allows municipalities to make and debate most policies of their own choosing, subject to some limits from state and federal law.
Cities may choose charters—essentially, the city's constitution—in accordance with procedure set by the Commonwealth's Constitution and Laws. assachusetts General Laws Ch. 4 Sec. 7 defines the charter as that which "establishes and defines the structure of the city and town government for a particular community and which may create local offices, and distribute powers, duties, and responsibilities among local offices and which may establish and define certain procedures to be followed by the city or town government." Charters can be adopted, amended, or revised in accordance with Chapter 43 and Chapter 43B of the Massachusetts General Laws, or through a special act by the state legislature. North Adams’s "Home Rule Charter," is essentially a modified version of "Plan E," a model charter found in Chapter 43, Sections 93-116 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 43 includes six different model charters for cities, known as Plans A, B, C, D, E, and F. Cities may choose to adopt a model charter, but there is no requirement that they do. Some of these plans include a mayor as chief executive; others use a City Manager. Plans A, B, and F have a city council and a mayor. The Mayor's powers in A, B, and F differs, but in each the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer and the "Head of the City." The process of election and the size and power of City Council differs in each plan. Plan C is a "commissioner" form of government which is in essence a city council government in which city councilors serve a "commissioners" and heads of department for administration, finance, health, public works, and public property. Two plans, D and E, are known as "Council-Manager" forms of government, and include a city council and mayor, but they also both include a city manager, who takes on the administrative and executive powers found in the mayor and city council in other model charters. In Plans D and E, as written, the City Manager is the "Chief Administrative Officer" of the City (M.G.L Ch. 43 §89; M.G.L Ch. 43 §103), and, in Sections 90 and 104, “shall have and possess, and shall exercise, all the powers, rights and duties, other than legislative” that existed in the form of city government existing prior to adopting Plans D or E. The biggest difference between the two, otherwise, is that in plan D two-thirds of the City Council is required to remove the City Manager whereas in E it takes only a vote of the majority. NORTH ADAM’S HOME RULE CHARTER HISTORY North Adams originally adopted the "Plan E" model of local government. with nine city councilors choosing the mayor and the manager. These nine city councilors were elected in at-large elections through proportional representation. This particular election system, of ranked choice voting for candidates for city council and school committee, was eliminated by voters. See The Bureau’s previous work, Choosing a Better Voting System: The Argument for Ranked Choice Voting in North Adams and Beyond (Report 19-02, February 2019) for an examination of how this worked in practice. In North Adams voters decided to reexamine North Adams's Charter, using the Home Rule process found in M.G.L. Chapter 43B, eventually adopting a modified version of the Plan E model, which went into effect. It is not exactly Plan E as defined by M.G.L. Chapter 43. Instead, |
North Adams's new home rule charter increased the number of City Councilors from nine to eleven, splitting them between six at-large councilors and five district councilors. The mayor is elected by voters from among the at-large candidates who choose to also run for mayor (see Bureau Brief—North Adams's, a Primer for more information about how this works); whereas the City Council made that decision under North Adams’s previous Plan E government.
Under Plan E, the City Manager serves at the City Council’s pleasure; under North Adams’s Charter, the City Manager is hired by contract for up to five years at a time (the contract may be renewed). Finally, Plan E has no such thing as a “Neighborhood Area Council,” which North Adams’s Charter provides for in Article 8. While not “Plan E,” North Adams’s Charter was very consciously modelled heavily after it, a point very explicitly made by the 1983 Charter Commission: “The members of this Commission who have endorsed this new charter believe that it should appeal to both those who feel that North Adams’s government has done just fine and is not in need of change and those who feel that it has needed a fresh look and/or an overhaul.” (North Adams Charter Commission, Proposed Home Rule Charter 1985, 1) In response to a lawsuit first filed in February 2021, and a subsequent consent decree from October 2021, the City Charter was further amended in September 2022 to change the organization of North Adams's School Committee, creating a mix of six district and two at-large seats (and the mayor), a change from six at-large seats (and the mayor) previously. NORTH ADAM'S COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT North Adams's home rule charter separates the powers of its government between the elected City Council and the Article Eight allows the City Council to create "Neighborhood Area Councils," which can provide an advisory function for the City Council. The City Council (in section 8-8) can delegate certain authorities to these Neighborhood Area Councils, which are themselves elected from the citizenry of the particular neighborhood. If requested, the City Manager shall assign a representative to attend their meetings and act as a liaison between them and the City Manager’s office. Citizens can petition the Council to create such councils; however, the ultimate power to create them and delegate authority rests with City Council itself. Importantly, there has never been any established neighborhood area councils as delineated by the Charter, though the concept has appeared on City Council agendas five times since 2002. The Council does operate according to a set of its own rules, found here. Finally, it should be noted that the Revised Ordinances of the city of North Adams (essentially, the day to day laws that govern the City's operations), in Chapter Two § 3 note that standing committees of city council "shall not perform administrative or executive duties, but shall perform the duties usually performed by committees of deliberative bodies." In other words, to reinforce what has already been said, the City Council firmly plays the deliberative role that is assigned to legislatures everywhere. THE CITY MANAGER The City Manager's powers, duties, and responsibilities are outlined especially in Article Three of the City Charter. The City Council appoints the City Manager, and the Manager serves as the Chief Administrative and Chief Executive Officer of the City. The manager oversees the administration of all city agencies, except for where otherwise provided in the Charter (the City Clerk and the City Auditor are hired by the City Council). Section 3-2 outlines the specific powers and duties of the Manager. First, the manager "shall have and possess, and may exercise, all the power, rights and duties, other than legislative, commonly associated with municipal chief executive or administrative officers." The manager "shall be the chief administrative and executive officer of the city and shall be responsible to the city council for the proper administration of all city affairs properly entrusted to him/her." As the Chief Administrative and Executive Officer, the City Manager has day to day purview of city affairs. |
|
The Charter lists seven specific powers under 3-2 of the City Manager. The following quotes directly from the Charter: (1) To act as chief conservator of the peace within the city. He/she shall have all the authority and power conferred upon a city manager under section forty-two of chapter thirty-three of the General Laws. (NOTE: M.G.L. Ch. 33 § 42 was repealed in 1979) (2) To supervise the administration of the affairs of the city. (3) To ensure that, within the city, the general laws and the ordinances, resolutions, and regulations of the city council are faithfully executed. (4) To make such recommendations to the city council concerning the affairs of the city as he/she may deem necessary and desirable. (5) To make reports to the city council from time to time upon the affairs of the city. (6) To keep the city council fully advised of the city's financial condition and its future needs. (7) To prepare and submit to the city council budgets as required by general law and article five of this charter. He/she may require the submission by all city agencies under his/her jurisdiction of detailed estimates of the full amounts necessary to meet their expenses for the next fiscal year pursuant to section 31A of chapter 44 of the General Laws. As “chief conservator of the peace,” and as part of their supervision of the administration of the city, the City Manager oversees the police and fire departments, and both departments are members of the Manager’s Cabinet. Section 3-3(a) gives the City Manager the power to appoint and remove department heads, officers, and employees from city agencies under the responsibility of the city manager. According to section 3-5, officers and employees of the city that are appointed by or under the authority of the manager are to perform the duties required by them of the City Manager, or face possible removal. The City Manager is also responsible for appointing members to boards and commissions in the city that are classified as executive and regulatory, with advice from the Citizen Advisory Council (section 3-4). (See Bureau Brief—Serving on North Adams's Boards and Commissions from May 2023 for more information about this process) Article 6, regarding city agencies, leaves it to the City Manager to prepare and submit to City Council for
|
approval plans to reorganize, abolish, consolidate, or establish city agencies. Article 7, regarding elections, provides the City Manager the ability to appoint members of the Board of Election Commissioners, insofar as they then receive majority approval from the City Council. Finally, it should be noted that in the Revised Ordinances of the city of North Adams, in Chapter Two § 12, heads of departments and city agencies are charged with "determining the priorities of the agency and to prepare long-range strategic plans and objectives consistent with the strategic direction of the city manager," and, among other things, to "ensure that all actions of the agency are taken in accordance with all executive orders and administrative directives issued by the city manager." If it was not already apparent, this reinforces the fact that the executive power is firmly in the hands of the City Manager.
CONCLUSION North Adams's municipal government is, in many ways, no different than the governments many are already familiar with. While it may not possess a "judicial" power, the City has both a legislative and executive power, found within the City Council and the City Manager respectively. Indeed, the Revised Ordinances of the city of North Adams, Chapter Two § 1 reaffirms this: "The legislative powers of the city of North Adams shall be vested in the city council and the executive power shall be vested in the city manager." As both the chief administrative and chief executive officer of North Adams, the City Manager has an enormous responsibility to guide the day-to-day affairs of the city, as well as to set yearly priorities through the creation of a budget. As Chief Executive, the Manager may also need to interpret and implement the ordinances and policies passed by the City Council. The City Manager, in that sense, plays an important role guiding the affairs of the City. The City Council, with the legislative power, has responsibility for oversight of the city through the creation of ordinances and regulations that govern behaviors and what is possible within the city, including setting policies within their purview, and the responsibility to pass the budget and other matters. Both need to work together for the smooth operations of the City. |