Voters could recall Freetown-Lakeville school committee members

Registered voters could start a petition to recall a school committee member. The process covers members of the Freetown-Lakeville regional school committee and registered voters in its member towns. At least 150 registered voters from the member towns must file an affidavit naming the member and stating the grounds for recall. The petition must have signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters in every precinct of every member town. The petition must be filed with the school committee secretary within 20 days after it is issued.

If a petition is certified as sufficient and the member does not resign, the school committee would ask the towns to order a recall election. This applies after the secretary certifies that a recall petition against a committee member is sufficient. The member has 7 days after receiving notice to resign before the school committee must ask the towns to order an election. If another town election is scheduled within 90 days after certification, the recall election must be held on that election date. The towns must set the recall election for a date at least 60 and no more than 90 days after the secretary certifies the petition, subject to the other-election rule.

Voters would decide whether to recall the member and, if they vote for recall, choose a successor. The successor serves the remainder of the member's term. If the successor does not qualify within 5 days after being notified of election, the office becomes vacant. If a majority votes for recall, the candidate with the most votes is elected; if a majority votes against recall, votes for candidates need not be counted. A member stays in office until a successor qualifies. A member cannot be subject to recall if their term expires within 6 months of the filing of the certificate; petitions also cannot be filed in the first 90 days after the member takes office or within 90 days after the member survives a recall election. The bill would take effect upon passage.