Bill > H58

This bill proposes several amendments to the Town of Reading's Home Rule Charter, which is a foundational document outlining the town's governmental structure and powers. Key changes include restructuring the representative Town Meeting to consist of 192 elected members from eight precincts, with a system for staggered terms to ensure continuity. The bill also establishes a process for the Board of Selectmen, the town's executive body, to review and re-divide precincts every ten years to ensure equal representation based on population, with specific requirements for precinct boundaries to be contiguous and compact. Furthermore, it details how Town Meeting members are elected and how vacancies are filled, including provisions for recall elections for elected officials (excluding Town Meeting members) and outlines procedures for nominating candidates and conducting elections. The bill also clarifies the powers and responsibilities of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager, including the appointment, qualifications, and contract terms for the Town Manager, as well as procedures for appointing an Acting Town Manager during absences or vacancies. Finally, it allows the Town Clerk to make non-substantive numbering changes to the Charter and specifies that the act will take effect upon voter approval at a local election.