The original charter was adopted in 1971 as a Town Council/Town Manager form of government. In 1988, Agawam changed to a Mayor/City Council form of government. Minor changes were made to the Charter (such as changeing the word Manager to Mayor) but it never did reflect a Mayoral form of government as it does in most other cities with a mayor. As a result, as many have argued, Agawam has a mayoral form of government operating under a manager type of charter.
Because of this, many of the checks and balances that make a government operate efficiently and represent its citizen's best interests are not present in Agawam.
The revision process is a simple, yet lengthy one. Once the signatures are gathered, the question is placed on the ballot asking, "shall a commission be elected to revise the charter of Agawam?" Also, anyone wishing to run as a commissioner will be listed on the same ballot. If the voters approve the question, the commission then immediately begins its work by meeting to review the present charter, hold public hearings, gather public input and suggestions, and then submit any proposed changes to the voters. At that time the voters will then decide if they want to implement the revised charter,
The Agawam Democratic Committee wants to stress two points. First, although this is starting out as our project, we hope it will take on a life of its own and become a totaly non-partisan community project made up of citizens from all areas of Agawam regardless of their political belief. Secondly, it should be understood that this petition only allows for the election of a commission to review the possibility of revision. It in no way automatically accepts anything that the commission does. Such approval will cvome at a later time when the commission's suggestions go back on the ballot for the voters approval.
The Democratic Committee looks forward to the involvement of the many people of Agawam who want to help accomplish and complete this project. Anyone interested can contact any member of the Agawam Democratic Committee (or the following members of the Charter Commission Revision sub committee) for petitoins or nomination papers.
Charter Review Sub-Committee
Chairperson. . . . . . . . . . .Kathy Arnold
Committee member . . . . . Gina M. Letellier
Committee member . . . . . John J. (Jack) Rioni
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For Local Information. . .
To Volunteer in Agawam, Massachusetts . . .
For Voter Registration Assistance. . .
Please write
| Agawam Democratic Committee |
| PO Box 395 |
| Feeding Hills, MA 01030 |
| jack@sysimp.com |