Town Council Approves Resolution for General Assembly Charter Ratification

At their , Town Council members agreed to request that the General Assembly approve the seven Home Rule Charter questions that Coventry voters approved in November 2010.

The decision did not come without debate however, as several elected officials felt that the voters were misinformed in regards to the proposed amendment establishing nonpartisan elections, where all candidates on the ballot for local offices appear without party designation.

According to , the intent of the amendment was to eliminate “master levers” at the local level, which allow voters to choose all candidates from the same party for multiple positions using a single voting mark, however, language additions made to the Home Rule Charter would allow the creation of a run-off voting system, pitting the top two candidates from the first round in a second election. Tomasso's concern is that the residents of Coventry were not given the opportunity to vote for both issues separately.

"Non-partisan elections and run-off elections are two distinctly different changes to our Home Rule Charter," Tomasso said. "Voters should have had an opportunity to vote on both. My hope is that all seven of the charter amendments voted on by the residents of Coventry will be approved within the next two weeks. In the interest of fairness, transparency and representation for all, I would like to see a non-partisan election in 2012 at which time a charter amendment question establishing run-offs be placed on the ballot for voter consideration."

Senator Nick Kettle, who has been awaiting the General Assembly's ratification of the bill, explained that the amendment was modeled after  a similar one in East Providence that was created in the 1950s. He also stated that all details of the amendment had been discussed at prior meetings and everything had been explained in full.

"I think it's an outrage that we're trying to undo the results of an election," he said. "The people voted and that's what they want."

At Monday's meeting, Town Councilman Ted Jendzejec, explained that he absolutely agrees with the idea behind the amendment, but he disagrees with how it was proposed to the electorate.

"I think it's a great idea, but it wasn't presented to the voters up front," he said. "They voted for a non-partisan election not non-partisan primaries and elections."

President Gary Cote approved a motion to accept public comment before the Council voted on the resolution, which included commentary from former Town Council member, , who explained that the Rhode Island Constitution gives voters the right to self-government in regards to local matters and that the results from 2010 should be honored. 

"It is egregious that any Town Council would interfere after an election has been sealed," she said.

Cote explained that the language of the resolution will hopefully protect the Town Council from litigation, saving the Town of Coventry thousands of dollars in legal fees.

"The voters obviously wanted these issues brought to the General Assembly," he said. "I think the wording is proper and will clear this Council of any legal responsibilities should a challenge occur in the future."

After a five-minute recess, the Council unanimously voted to pass and adopt the resolution that stated; "Now therefore, be it resolved, that the Town of Coventry requests the General Assembly approval of those Home Rule Charter questions that are not in conflict with the State law and require General Assembly approval."