Wellesley residents on Tuesday voted down a proposal to change the town’s government to a Board of Selectmen-Town Manager system. The unofficial results: 2,823 No votes (57%) to 2,121 Yes votes (43%). Final results will be released Wednesday once some hand counted votes are added to the total, according to the Town Clerk.
Many of those voting No said that the Town Manager plan, as proposed, would have taken too much control out of the hands of citizens, including volunteers who devote their time on boards and committees. The Library Trustees, Natural Resources Commission and Recreation Commission were among those opposed to the move.
Some said they weren’t necessarily against having a Town Manager, just not as currently proposed.
Those voting Yes felt it was time for the town to change its form of government in light of Wellesley’s growth.
A Town Government Study Committee began exploring possible changes to the town’s government structure about 2 years ago, and after Town Meeting approved the Town Meeting plan, the Special Act signed by the Governor to move forward with that plan went to voters this week.
Below are the Town Manager and Town Meeting Member results for now.
I was very disturbed to get an e-mail from the library telling me to vote No. What right does the library have to use their database to politic? Whether they are pro or con, this is misuse. Make your views known as individuals, as is your right but don’t use TOWN resources!!!
Welcome to the wonderful world of town government employees pushing their agendas (though not certain what the classification of your library falls under).
Several years ago school superintendent in our town sent out daily if not thrice daily reminders about an upcoming election – that just happened to
Include an override for a new school building using email list of those who signed up for school-related mailings. Recently learned from Attorney General’s office that it is not legal – not sure what it falls under – but if they had sent it to all registered voters or residents that would be fine but not fine to target citizens with kids in school system. If it happens again with the next override was told we can file a complaint.
What was the voter turnout percentage?
Did the special act give the town manager
outright (without BOS consent) power to appoint and dismiss department heads or did the selectmen need to approve all?
P.S. I don’t live in the town thus the reason I did not read it. Hopefully all those who did vote read it and understood the details, as both sides in these debates often misconstrue the details.
In all the debate on this issue I never saw a $/ financial estimate of the cost of introducing a town manager… though I suspect it could only escalate the cost of government here…so I think the voters were very prudent to reject it – like any proposal without financial parameters included.