By Rebecca Martin
The City of Kingston has officially begun the process of reviewing and reforming its City Charter, and this is one of the most important opportunities residents will have to shape how our local government functions for decades to come.
Sign up for the Civic Lottery for the opportunity to serve on the Charter Review Commission. Kingston’s charter, first established in 1896 and last updated in 1994, serves as the city’s constitution. It establishes the framework of our local government, including how leaders are selected, how laws are adopted, and how residents participate in civic life. This revision is a rare opportunity to help determine how Kingston will be governed well into the future.
Whether or not you’re interested in serving on the commission, you can still participate by completing the community survey and sharing your thoughts about Kingston’s government. Every voice matters.
Visit Engage Kingston to learn more about the City Charter, the revision timeline, and the many ways you can participate.
Catch Up on the Charter Reform Process
For those who want to better understand how we got here, we’ve also created a Charter Reform Memo that brings together everything we’re aware of since we first began advocating for charter reform. It provides the history, key milestones, public discussions, reports, and other background information to help residents quickly come up to speed and participate in the process with a solid understanding of what’s come before.
Understanding the Different Forms of Government
One of the Charter Review Commission’s responsibilities will be to evaluate the different forms of municipal government available to Kingston. In addition to our current mayor-council system, the commission will consider alternatives such as a City Administrator or City Manager form of government.
To help inform that conversation, back in 2014 we hosted a public forum featuring the City Administrator from the City of Beacon and the City Manager from the City of New Rochelle. They explained how these forms of government operate, the responsibilities of each position, and how they work with elected officials to manage city operations.
It was an enlightening discussion then, and it is even more relevant today as Kingston begins this important review. If you haven’t watched it, now is an excellent time to do so as our community explores the options for the future of Kingston’s government. That educational forum is as relevant today as it was then.