Somerville Council votes down municipal voting rights charter reform proposals

The Somerville City Council held a special meeting on May 6, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to the city charter and other pressing issues. The meeting began with a review of three proposed charter amendments aimed at extending municipal voting rights to non-citizen residents, implementing ranked choice voting for single-occupant offices, and enhancing public access to the annual budget.

Councilor Scott expressed his hope for a collaborative approach among council members, emphasizing the importance of using the charter process to benefit the broader community. However, the council faced a divided vote on the proposed amendments, with only two councilors in favor and eight opposed, resulting in the rejection of these items.

Following this, the council moved to discuss a home rule petition proposed by Councilors Ewenkamp, McLaughlin, and Davis, which aimed to establish a new charter for Somerville. Councilor Davis presented the updated version of the charter, which included amendments discussed in the previous meeting and a ballot question regarding a four-year term for elected officials. He acknowledged the frustrations shared by his colleagues throughout the charter reform process, noting the challenges posed by the strong mayoral system and state limitations on municipal governance.

Davis criticized the constraints placed on local governments by the Commonwealth, suggesting that these limitations stem from historical injustices. He expressed a desire for meaningful reform to balance power between the executive and legislative branches, although he recognized the difficulties in achieving such changes.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue discussions on the charter reform and the home rule petition, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the council to address the needs and rights of Somerville residents.