ORDER-2020-24 : Calling a Preliminary Mayoral Election -- Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019

Transcript (~5 min @ 9:26)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 9:21 Speaker 7: Order 2020-24, calling a preliminary mayoral election Tuesday, September 17th, 2019.

▶ 9:31 Manisha Bewtra: Alderman Bewtra. Thank you. Motion to suspend the rules.

▶ 9:34 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: We have a motion to suspend the rules made by Alderman Bewtra.

▶ 9:38 Peter D. Mortimer: Point of order. I think we need a request for immediate consideration first.

▶ 9:42 Manisha Bewtra: I'm sorry I think that's true I'd like to make a motion to request immediate

▶ 9:48 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: consideration the motion for immediate consideration on order 2020-24 made by Alderman Bewtra is there an objection the orders before you um I'd like to

▶ 10:01 Manisha Bewtra: request immediate I'm sorry make a motion for to suspend the rules motion

▶ 10:08 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: to suspend the rules made by Alderman Bewtra second by Alderman Mortimer all in favor aye opposed we are now under suspension of rules the order remains before you um i'd

▶ 10:19 Manisha Bewtra: like to make a motion to join orders 2020-2024 and 2020-25 we is that we have a media consideration

▶ 10:27 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: on 2020-24 so we'll consider that one first please all right um like immediate consideration

▶ 10:36 Manisha Bewtra: on order 2020-24 calling a preliminary mayoral election um motion for passage motion for passage

▶ 10:46 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: on order 2020-24 calling a preliminary mayoral election on tuesday 17th second the motion for passage matter president 2019 made by alderman butchers seconded by alderman mortimer on

▶ 11:01 Monica C. Medeiros: discussion alderman medeiros thank you um seeing as we have the city clerk here with us tonight I know I've had a lot of questions from the public. This is the first preliminary election the city will actually ever have. So I was hoping perhaps the city clerk could just explain for the public the format of the ballot, and a lot of questions about whether it's a partisan election, or how does that work, and how many people you vote for.

▶ 11:27 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: We're already under suspension of rules, so I'll invite Ms. Mosa to the table.

▶ 11:31 Speaker 8: Sure. Thank you. Alderman Medeiros is correct. This is the first preliminary election for mayor that the city has held when the charter was changed in 2005. This was when this protocol was put in place, and this is the first time we've had multiple candidates for mayor. So the way their charter reads, if you have more than two candidates for mayor, you need to have a preliminary election. But as all municipal elections in Melrose are, it's nonpartisan. So there will be one ballot with all candidates listed. And everyone who comes to vote should vote for one candidate only. But the top two vote getters will move on to the November election. So there's a lot of places for confusion there. So when you go to the ballot in September, vote for your one choice. But the top two vote getters will go to the ballot in November. Is there any other questions?

▶ 12:35 Monica C. Medeiros: Thank you. That helped very much.

▶ 12:36 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: OK. Thank you, Alderman Medeiros. Are there any other questions or comments from members of the committee? Alderman Lipper-Garabedian.

▶ 12:42 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: And can you just confirm, will it all be the same polling locations that generally exist, for example, in November? And when will the polls be open?

▶ 12:50 Speaker 8: Correct. It'll be your same polling locations as always. Polls open at 7, close at 8, as always. So you can call the Elections Office here in City Hall if you have questions about where you vote, but you can also find it on our website. There's a link to the state where it says, where do I vote, essentially, and you can search by your name and also check that you're registered.

▶ 13:17 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions or comments? Alderman Tramontozzi.

▶ 13:21 John N. Tramontozzi: Yes, thank you. Maybe you can also explain how the order in which a name appears on the ballot will be accomplished

▶ 13:30 Speaker 8: so yes, so The way that happens it's already been established. It's a drawing by lot So we take actually the elections administrator Joanne preparing and put everyone every candidates name in a bowl and I drew them and we basically the first name drawn is the top of the

▶ 13:54 Speaker 9: ballot and it goes down from there thank you thank you very much we have a motion

▶ 14:03 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: made and seconded for passage of the order any further discussion on the order generally. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That order passes. Order 2020-25