Keep it the way it is
Published: 4/27/2021 6:34:25 AM
Why would the Greenfield Charter Committee recommend changing the accepted rules for putting a referendum up for a vote? From what I understand the committee wants more signatures to get a referendum on the ballot. It is difficult enough as it is to find citizens who are interested in local government.
Have we been plagued by a plethora of referendums? No, far from it. I have lived in Greenfield 44 years. I remember there were a mere handful: the new library, plastic bags, biomass, and the big box stores (Walmart).
According to Albert Norman the number of petition signatures of registered voters to put a referendum issue up for a vote was 316 for the new library. And that was based on 10% of “voters voting in the most recent biennial city election.” That sounds doable but it is not especially easy to get enough signatures.