Providing for recall elections in the town of Berlin
Summary
This bill creates a local recall-election process for elected officials in the Town of Berlin. It allows qualified voters to seek the removal of any elected officeholder by filing an affidavit with the town clerk, followed by a recall petition signed by a required number of registered voters. The petition threshold is the lesser of 10% of registered voters or 75% of the average turnout in the prior three town elections, and the measure sets detailed deadlines for certification, notice, and the scheduling of a special election.
If the recall petition is certified, the select board must notify the targeted official, who may resign or proceed to a recall election. The bill also establishes ballot language, allows the incumbent to run in the replacement election unless they opt out, and provides that the incumbent remains in office until the election is certified. It further bars recall petitions within six months of taking office or within six months after a failed recall, and it prohibits a recalled official or one who resigns during recall proceedings from being reappointed to the same office for one year.
Impact
The bill would amend the election-law framework by adding a town-specific recall mechanism for Berlin, supplementing general Massachusetts election procedures with local rules for initiating, certifying, and conducting recall elections. It affects elected town officers, the town clerk, the board of registrars, and the select board by assigning them specific duties and timelines in the recall process. Because the bill is local and received local approval, its legal effect is limited to Berlin rather than statewide.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable or at least procedural support for the bill, as it was filed with local approval and there is no recorded committee opposition, vote tally, or transcript indicating controversy. The measure appears to have been presented as a town-requested governance tool rather than a broad partisan issue. In the absence of recorded debate, the sentiment can best be characterized as neutral to supportive.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the mechanics and thresholds of recall: how many voters should be required to start a recall, how quickly the process should move, and whether the targeted official should be allowed to appear on the replacement ballot. Another possible issue is the balance between accountability and stability, reflected in the six-month waiting periods and the one-year reappointment ban. No specific opponents or competing viewpoints are identified in the provided materials, but these provisions are the ones most likely to draw discussion.