Effective. Responsive. Accountable.
It’s what we deserve from Brookline’s government. Do we have it? The City Charter Campaign believes it’s time to re-consider whether our volunteer, part-time town governance structure is what’s best for today’s Brookline. A Charter Commission is needed to consider and propose to voters a structure that will work better for everyone.
The Process
To propose big changes to our government structure, we need a Charter Commission. To establish a Charter Commission, voters need to approve a ballot question and elect nine commissioners. To have that ballot question appear, a signature collection effort must meet a threshold of 15% of Brookline’s registered voters.
The Timing
Once the 6,000+ signatures needed have been certified, the question of electing a Charter Commission will be placed on the next possible Brookline (May) ballot. On the same ballot, we will elect 9 candidates to serve on the commission. If the question passes, the elected Charter Commission has up to 18 months to study, debate, and propose a better governance structure for Brookline. That proposal then goes back to the voters. At each step, the voters decide.
Your Role
If you are a registered voter in Brookline and you signed the petition for a charter commission, you have already taken the first step. As we continue to evaluate the process of certifying signatures, you can stay up to date by signing up for our mailing list. The charter process is a great way to get people talking about how Brookline’s government works today, and how it could work better tomorrow!