Springfield Officials Consider Charter Commission

Does Springfield need a new form of government?

Officials are considering putting that question to voters.

At the May 22 Springfield Township Committee meeting, officials presented an ordinance asking voters whether they want to a charter commission to study the Springfield’s government. If passed, the question would be on the November 6, 2012 General Election ballot.

While some officials questioned the need for a charter commission and wondered about its implications, supporters of the ordinance stressed that the vote was the first step in an exploratory process.

Springfield has twice had groups look critically at its form of government. In 1958, a charter commission similar to the one currently under discussion inspected the form of government and made recommendations. Springfield Government Study Committee pored over government organization and processes in 1996.

During discussion on the ordinance, Committee member David Amlen noted that important conclusions of the two studies had already been enacted, notably in the role of the township administrator. He asked if the other Committee members if there was a long term vision behind the commission. 

Springfield Mayor Ziad Shehady, who has spearheaded the proposed Charter Commission, said that there was not a plan in place, and that the Commission would flesh out changes.