Agenda Text
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City Clerk responding to #202924, determining that two Commissions, Election and Licensing, include political party affiliation as a membership criterion.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
I have consulted with the Mayor’s Office with regard to #202924, to determine which city commissions include political party affiliation as a membership criterion.
We have found that only the Licensing Commission and the Election Commission have slots designated for political parties. Both Commissions’ appointment requirements are set by Special Acts of the State Legislature, and are contained in the Appendix of the City Charter:
Licensing Commission:
CITY CHARTER
DIVISION 2 - CHARTER APPENDIX
ARTICLE III - LICENSING COMMISSION
Sec. 1. - Creation; powers and duties; composition; appointment; compensation.
The City of Somerville may by ordinance establish a licensing commission and from time to time place in charge of and withdraw from said commission the issuing of such of the licenses, now or hereafter authorized by law to be issued by its board of aldermen, as the city may by ordinance determine. One member of said commission shall be appointed from each of the two leading political parties and the third member shall also be appointed from one of said parties. Said commission shall have all the powers conferred by the statutes of the Commonwealth upon the board of aldermen and the mayor in relation to such licenses as may be placed in its charge and the regulation of the subject matters thereof. The members of said commission shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the board of aldermen, and shall receive such compensation, if any, as the mayor and board of aldermen may determine. The powers and duties of licensing boards, mentioned in Section four of Chapter one hundred and thirty-eight of the General Laws, shall vest in said commission. [EMPHASIS ADDED]
(Acts 1923, Chapter 191, Section 1; Acts 1939, Chapter 190, Section 1)
Election Commission:
CITY CHARTER
DIVISION 2 - CHARTER APPENDIX
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
Sec. 2. - Composition; compensation.
There shall be a board of election commissioners in the city of Somerville. The board shall consist of 4 persons, 2 of whom shall always represent each of the 2 leading political parties, as defined in section 1 of chapter 50 of the General Laws. They shall receive such compensation as the mayor and board of aldermen determine. [EMPHASIS ADDED]
(Acts 1928, Chapter 82, Section 2; Acts 2012, Chapter 400, approved Jan. 3, 2013)
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
John J. Long, City Clerk