Residents vote to change city’s charter

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Northampton voters approved changes to the city's charter. 

Voters overwhelmingly supported the overhaul during Tuesday’s special election, with the bid receiving more 80% of the popular vote. 

The vote comes months after a public dispute between the Secretary of State's office and Mayor David Narkewicz, over a deadline to include the municipal ballot question on the state ballot. 

Galvin’s office says it notified Northampton’s city solicitor and city clerk of the June 1 ^st deadline; Narkewicz says that never happened.  On Wednesday, he told 22News the state should reimburse the city for having to hire more poll workers and print an extra set of ballots, efforts that cost the city an estimated $10,000. 

Last July, a public records request filed by Narkewicz justified the department’s assertion, proving the state never notified Northampton of the deadline. 

Narkewicz is now looking to get the state to pay for what he’s calling a costly gaffe. 

James Hardy of Northampton told 22News, “That's it, they made a mistake. They didn't look into what was going on they had a problem there, very simple.”

Narkewicz says the charter overhaul is the first of its kind. Among the many changes, starting November of next year, elected mayors will serve four year terms instead of two years.