BOSTON – State Rep. Jenny Armini, whose district includes Marblehead, testified before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government Tuesday on behalf of the home-rule petition that seeks to change the Marblehead Select Board’s term system.
At Town Meeting in May, Article 44, sponsored by resident Jim Zisson, was approved by residents. If it takes effect, it would change the Select Board members’ terms from one-year terms to staggered three-year terms.
In order for the bylaw to be amended, however, it must be approved by the state legislature. After hearing the testimonies, the joint committee will then report the bylaw out to multiple other committees for review. Afterwards, if approved, it will make its way to the state House of Representatives and Senate, before being signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey.
In her testimony, Armini noted that Marblehead remains the only municipality in Massachusetts that still uses one-year term limits for Select Board members, and said that the time has come to change that.
“Perhaps it was good governance in 1649, even 1999, but it is not good governance today,” Armini said. “Campaigning every 12 months, even at the local level, demands time and resources that distract from the important work of a Select Board.”
Armini added that one-year term limits interfere with “long-term planning and decision-making,” arguing that Select Board members may not even have the opportunity to see a project or plan through before their term expires.
“Expertise and leadership are developed with consistent service insulated for a reasonable time from electoral considerations,” Armini continued.
Zisson also provided a written testimony at the hearing. In his testimony, he said that the Marblehead Select Board was established in 1649 with one-year term limits because the average life expectancy at the time was less than 40 years old.
“Some 374 years later, Marblehead still has the one-year term. No other town in Massachusetts has remained with a one-year term,” Zisson’s testimony read. “Most towns have a three-year staggered term for a reason – it improves governance and builds commitment.”
Zisson’s testimony echoed Armini’s argument that Select Board members should be concerned with the operations of the town rather than campaigning year after year.
Extending the terms to three years would also align the Select Board with other town boards, including the School Committee.
“We want our Select Board to focus on running the town and not running for reelection,” Zisson said in his written testimony. “Presently, in any given 12-month period, a Select Board candidate will have run two campaigns. Twice in 12 months, three times in 24 months. Planting lawn signs instead of building budgets!”
In order to implement the transition, Article 44 states that in the town election one year after the bylaw’s enactment, the two Select Board candidates who earn the most votes will both receive three-year terms, the two who rank third and fourth will receive two-year terms, and the candidate who places fifth will receive a one-year term. All Select Board elections afterward will be for three-year terms.
Armini said that she is hopeful that the bylaw will be signed by Healey in time for Marblehead’s next town election.