Cheverly holds public hearing on charter amendment to bar dual mayor–council candidacies

The Town of Cheverly held a public hearing on proposed Charter Amendment Resolution (CAR) 2-26, which would add a new subsection to Section 18.2 of the town charter to prohibit an individual from being a candidate for mayor and council member in the same election. Mayor (speaker S1) read the proposal aloud and explained that dual filings, including write-in applications, would be "null and void" and that the clerk would notify any individual in violation and request withdrawal before the filing deadline.

The proposal's proposed new line reads in part: "Under no circumstances may an individual be a candidate for mayor and council member in the same election." Council members and counsel discussed two drafting corrections to the resolution (minor rewording in a whereas clause and a clarifying edit to the clerk‑instruction sentence). Council member John noted there is no immediate time pressure because the next election where both mayor and council would be elected at the same time is not until 2031, allowing time for supervisors and counsel to refine the text.

Board of Elections Supervisor Claire Franchesay told the council the draft is "a bit too long" and that one subsection appears to address operational execution that the board prefers to keep in its operations manual rather than the charter. Town counsel (functional speaker S4) asked for the opportunity to consult the Board of Elections Supervisors before advising the council, saying that drafting often requires balancing clarity and brevity.

The mayor asked the Board of Elections Supervisors and the town attorney to meet before the November town meeting. Depending on counsel's advice, the council will either place the charter amendment on first reader in November or hold another public hearing and introduce the resolution on first reader at a later meeting. The mayor also said the clerk will continue to accept public input under the rules for the hearing. The public hearing was closed with no vote taken.