Bill S.2524

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2747 FILED ON: 9/1/2021

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2524

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2524) of Patricia D. Jehlen (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to provide for a gender-neutral charter in the City of Somerville. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local approval received]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act providing for a gender-neutral charter in the City of Somerville.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of title 1 of the charter of the city of Somerville, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the word “male”, each time it appears.

SECTION 2. The second paragraph of section 7 of title 2 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairperson”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- chair.

SECTION 3. Section 13 of title 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayor’s.

SECTION 4. Said section 13 of said title 3 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “board”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- council.

SECTION 5. Section 16 of said title 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “If he approves thereof, he shall signify his approval by signing the same; but if not he shall return the same with his objections to the city council” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- If the mayor approves thereof, mayor shall signify approval by signing the same; but if not the mayor shall return the same with all objections to the city council.

SECTION 6. Said section 16 of said title 3 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the words “He may except from his approval of any ordinance, order, resolution or vote which he has the power to veto” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The mayor may except from the approval of any ordinance, order, resolution or vote which the mayor has the power to veto.

SECTION 7. Clause (b) of section 17 of said title 3 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “aldermen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- City Council.

SECTION 8. Title 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out section 20 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

The executive powers of the city shall be vested solely in the mayor and may be exercised either personally or through the several officers and boards in their respective departments under the mayor’s general supervision and control. In the case of a vacancy in any office to which appointment is made by the mayor, the mayor may personally perform the duties thereof but shall not be entitled to receive any salary or pay attached thereto. The mayor shall hold office for the 2 municipal years beginning with the first Monday in January following the mayor’s election, unless sooner removed, and until a successor is elected and qualified; provided, however, that if elected to fill an existing vacancy, the newly elected mayor shall hold office only for the remainder of the unexpired term.

SECTION 9. Section 23 of said title 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The mayor may, in writing, suspend any executive officer and shall immediately report that action and the reason therefor to the city council.

SECTION 10. Section 24 of said title 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayor’s.

SECTION 11. Said section 24 of said title 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “He”, the first time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The mayor.

SECTION 12. Said section 24 of said title 4 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “he”, the second time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayor.

SECTION 13. Section 25 of said title 4 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “The mayor shall cause the laws, ordinances and orders for the government of the city to be enforced, and shall cause a record of all his official acts to be kept, and for that purpose and to aid him in his official duties he may appoint a secretary and define his duties” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The mayor shall cause the laws, ordinances and orders for the government of the city to be enforced and shall cause a record of all the mayor’s official acts to be kept and, for that purpose and to aid in accomplishing the official duties, the mayor may appoint a secretary and define the secretary’s duties.

SECTION 14. Section 28 of title 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 15. Said section 28 of said title 5 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “committeeman”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- committee member.

SECTION 16. Section 29 of said title 5 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- chair.

SECTION 17. Section 31 of title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “He”, the first and second time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- The city clerk.

SECTION 18. Said section 31 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “he”, the third time it appears.

SECTION 19. Said section 31 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the city clerk’s.

SECTION 20. Section 32 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “He”, the first time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The city treasurer and collector of taxes.

SECTION 21. Said section 32 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the words “prescribe; he shall” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- prescribe and shall.

SECTION 22. Subsection (a) of section 36 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

The chair of the board of assessors shall serve full-time and shall be nominated as chair by the mayor at the time of their appointment. The chair of the board shall also serve as the department head in the administration of the department.

SECTION 23. The second paragraph of subsection (b) of said section 36 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 24. Subsection (g) of said section 36 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 25. Said subsection (g) of said section 36 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.

SECTION 26. Clause (1) of the last paragraph of said section 36 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 27. Section 40A of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “he”, each time it appears.

SECTION 28. Section 40B of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayor’s.

SECTION 29. Section 42 of said title 6 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- said commissioner.

SECTION 30. Section 46 of title 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayor’s.

SECTION 31. Section 47 of said title 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 32. Said section 47 of said title 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.

SECTION 33. Section 50 of said title 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 34. Said section 50 of said title 7 of said charter is hereby further amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- the person.

SECTION 35. Section 54 of said title 7 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the word “male”.

SECTION 36. Section 1 of article II of the charter appendix of the city of Somerville, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- that member’s.

SECTION 37. Section 4 of article IV of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- chair.

SECTION 38. Section 7 of said article IV of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the words “shall be entered his residence on the preceding first day of January or on any subsequent day when he became a resident of said city” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- shall be entered their residence on the preceding first day of January or on any subsequent day when the voter became a resident of said city.

SECTION 39. Said section 7 of said article IV of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “the place at which he was listed by said board” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the place at which each person was listed by said board.

SECTION 40. Said section 7 of said article IV of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “and shall have appeared and satisfied them of his right to have his name so entered” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and shall have appeared and satisfied them of the person’s right to have their name so entered.

SECTION 41. Section 7 of article IV of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “They shall forthwith enter in the annual register” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The board of election commissioners shall forthwith enter in the annual register.

SECTION 42. Said section 7 of said article IV of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “his name has not been so entered” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- their name has not been so entered.

SECTION 43. Section 3 of article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears and inserting in place thereof, in each instance the following word:- their.

SECTION 44. Said section 3 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “he”, the first time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- such person.

SECTION 45. Said section 3 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “he is”, the second and third time they appear, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- they are.

SECTION 46. Section 5 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the words “(name of candidate) as a”.

SECTION 47. Said section 5 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following:- said candidate.

SECTION 48. Section 8 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 49. Said section 8 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the words “he desires” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- they desire.

SECTION 50. Section 9 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- any candidate.

SECTION 51. Said section 9 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- any candidate’s.

SECTION 52. Section 11 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the board’s.

SECTION 53. Section 13 of said article VI of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- their.

SECTION 54. Section 1 of article VII of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 55. Said section 1 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 56. Section 2 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 57. Section 3 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 58. Section 6 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby amended by striking out the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 59. Said section 6 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- them.

SECTION 60. Said section 6 of said article VII of said charter appendix is hereby further amended by striking out the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

Name:	District/Address:
Patricia D. Jehlen	Second Middlesex
Mike Connolly	26th Middlesex	9/2/2021
Erika Uyterhoeven	27th Middlesex	9/2/2021
Christine P. Barber	34th Middlesex	9/8/2021