MassachusettsH 4156194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act establishing a charter for the city of Cambridge

Sponsored By: Marjorie C. Decker (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Municipalities and Regional GovernmentHouse Steering, Policy and SchedulingBills in the Third Reading

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

18 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 1 costs, 5 mixed.

Budget deadlines, priorities, and yearly audits

The city’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The City Manager files the operating and capital budgets, including schools, and the Council must act before year end. If the Council does not act on an item by July 1, that amount becomes appropriated for its stated purpose. The Manager and Council share financial updates before the budget is filed, and the Council publishes budget priorities each year. The city must also have an annual audit.

Citizen initiatives and referendums process

To start an initiative, file a city form with signatures equal to 5% of registered voters and an affidavit by 10 voters. The Elections Department certifies within 14 days and the city solicitor advises within 21 days. The Council or School Committee has 60 days to act, or the measure is approved on day 61. After rejection, a supplemental petition with 15% signatures puts it on the next regular election at least 90 days after certification. For an initiative to take effect, at least 33% of registered voters must vote on it and a majority must approve. For a referendum, file within 20 days of final passage with 15% signatures; filing suspends the measure, and if not rescinded in 20 days it goes to the next regular election at least 90 days later. The Council may also refer measures or place non‑binding advisory questions. When two approved measures conflict, the one with the most yes votes takes effect. Ballot questions for a regular election must be submitted at least 90 days before Election Day.

Ranked-choice elections with public counting

City Council and School Committee are elected at large using ranked choice voting. Regular city elections are held in November of odd-numbered years. A Director of Elections runs election operations and the Board sets a public central counting place with sworn staff. Ballots are different colors by office, show clear instructions, and rotate candidate name order to reduce bias. Precincts use separate boxes for machine and auxiliary ballots, and a police officer transports the sealed auxiliary box. The city preserves ballots through the term and, on a signed request from at least 100 voters naming up to 3 representatives, allows supervised examination during business hours. Within 30 days after an election, the Elections Department provides first‑choice counts by precinct and ballot‑ranking data when it does not violate voter privacy.

Charter rules and smooth transitions

The charter controls when it conflicts with a city special act or local law. Existing city laws stay in force unless they conflict with the charter. City contracts, bonds, taxes, fines, and cases from before the charter remain valid and collectible. City employees keep their jobs, pay grade, and service time, and offices keep working until successors are in place or duties move. When duties move, records, property, and equipment transfer to the new office right away.

City can partner with governments

The city may share services and costs with state, regional, or federal agencies by agreement. The City Council considers regional cooperation in its work.

Council-manager government with clear oversight

The law makes the City Council the lawmaking body and the City Manager the chief executive. The Council hires the manager by contract for up to 5 years and reviews pay and performance each year. The manager runs departments, prepares budgets, and hires and removes staff under civil service and union rules; the Council may not direct who to hire or fire. The manager names an acting manager for absences; in a vacancy the Council may appoint an acting manager for up to 4 months, once renewable. The Council can reject the City Solicitor within 30 days by a two‑thirds vote. Before removal, the manager gets a public hearing; the Council may suspend and its decision is final.

Hiring and oversight of top staff

The City Council appoints a qualified city auditor and city clerk by majority vote. The mayor supervises them, can suspend up to five unpaid days, and needs six council votes to remove a council‑appointed employee; the mayor also does yearly reviews. The council appoints a city manager based only on administrative skill; current councillors and those who held elective city office in the past two years are not eligible. The city manager must ensure all departments follow the charter and issue written orders to fix failures.

Hiring by merit and department changes

City jobs and promotions must be based on merit and fitness, shown by exams, past work, or other proof. The manager can reorganize departments only by an administrative order with public notice and a hearing. The plan takes effect after 60 days unless the Council votes to disapprove by a majority. The Council may approve or disapprove but cannot amend the plan.

How council and school vacancies are filled

Vacancies on the City Council or School Committee are first filled by a public recount of the original ballots under set transfer rules. If a recounted candidate is eligible and willing, the City Clerk administers the oath within 15 days. If no nominated candidate is available, the remaining members fill the seat by majority vote. If they fail within 30 days, the Mayor may appoint after advertising.

How the City Council works

The law sets a nine-member City Council, elected citywide by ranked-choice voting. Councillors serve two-year terms starting the first Monday in January. Any registered Cambridge voter age 18 or older can serve; moving out of the city vacates the seat. The council elects a mayor and vice mayor; the mayor has no veto and serves on the School Committee. Passing laws needs a roll-call majority of all councillors, and that same majority is the quorum.

Open meetings and official records

City boards and commissions meet regularly and, unless law allows, meet in public. They keep agendas and minutes and file approved records with the city clerk within 15 days. Members usually must be Cambridge residents. Elected and appointed officials get a certificate and must take an oath before acting; councils and committees take oaths the first Monday in January of even years. Time limits in the charter skip the start day, and short deadlines under seven days skip weekends and holidays.

Regular reviews of city rules

By July 1 in every year ending in “2,” the council creates a charter review committee of city voters who are not elected officials. The committee reports within one year unless extended. At least every 10 years, the council reviews city ordinances for updates under the city solicitor’s oversight.

Who can vote and nonpartisan races

You can vote in city elections if you are a U.S. citizen, at least 18, a Cambridge resident, registered in the city, and not disqualified for corrupt election practices. All city offices are nonpartisan, and ballots and materials cannot show party labels. State election and corrupt‑practices laws apply unless they conflict with this charter. Older local special acts about elections remain in force if they do not conflict with this charter.

How the School Committee works

The School Committee has six elected members plus the mayor, chosen citywide by ranked-choice voting. Members serve two-year terms starting the first Monday in January; moving out creates a vacancy. The committee elects a chair and vice-chair, runs meetings, and forms subcommittees. It hires and may remove the superintendent, sets school policy, and oversees the school budget, which the City Council must appropriate. It manages routine upkeep of school buildings and helps plan new or renovated schools.

Limits on ballot questions

Some topics cannot go on initiative or referendum ballots. Blocked items include the full city budget, short‑term borrowing, small appropriations under 1% of the budget, debt payments, money to carry out contracts or union agreements, and personnel actions. Internal rules, emergency measures, memorial resolutions, and zoning petitions handled under the zoning process are also excluded.

Candidate filing and recount rules

To run, you must be a registered Cambridge voter, use a Board‑approved form, sign and notarize your statement before collecting signatures, and get at least 50 certified signatures. Nomination papers are available 18 weeks before the election and must be filed 14 weeks before by 5:00 PM. Papers not on the approved form, not properly notarized before signatures, or with duplicate voter signatures are invalid. For a recount, file a Board‑approved petition with at least 50 voter signatures by 5:00 PM on the third business day after the public results announcement. Recounts follow the original count’s rules as closely as possible.

City powers and public engagement

Cambridge remains an official city and municipal corporation. The charter aims to use all powers that state law allows unless the law limits them. The city treats public engagement as core to good government and uses in‑person, online, and other ways to reach people. Departments are encouraged to work with community groups and other partners.

Pay and job limits for officials

Mayor and councillor pay is set by city law, and changes do not take effect in the year they are voted. School Committee pay, if set, needs a two‑thirds council vote; changes must be passed in the first 18 months and start after the next regular city election. Officials can be reimbursed only for actual, necessary expenses if money is appropriated. Councillors and School Committee members cannot hold another paid city job, and a one‑year wait applies for paid appointed jobs after service (with limited exceptions). In general, no one may hold more than one city job at once unless the city manager grants a filed waiver, and part‑time hours cannot conflict with full‑time work.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Marjorie C. Decker
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Mike Connolly
Democratic • House
Steven Owens
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 11 • No: 0

committee vote • 7/2/2025

Committee Favorable: Ought to Pass