I created this page to help you develop an informed, educated decision on the two Citizen Petitions that will be on the October 21, 2024, Fall Town Meeting Warrant in Dudley.
In collaboration with former senior town officials, board volunteers, and residents, we initiated these petitions to restore stability to our town. Since the Personnel Board was gutted at the end of 2018, Dudley has faced significant challenges, including high employee turnover, low morale among town staff, and difficulties with hiring and applicant screening. These issues culminated in the unilateral shutdown of our Fire Department in 2023, putting residents’ safety and lives at risk.
Instead of simply rescinding the previous town meeting votes from 2018 and 2019, we chose to modernize them to align with the vision Dudley residents have for our town’s future. Our goal is to put Dudley back on a path of stability and progress for the decades ahead.
GUIDE To reading a Warrant Article:
- What you see in normal black ink is current law and remains unchanged.
- What you see in RED Text is new language.
- What You see in Red Text with a
“Strike Through”is being deleted or changed from current wording in bylaw
This is what each Bylaw would look like when adopted… final
Personnel Board Clean Version
Town Administrator Bylaw Clean Version
Citizen Petition #1
Personnel Bylaw Changes
Today’s Personnel Board Bylaw
Citizen Petition #2 Town Administrator Bylaw Changes
Today’s Town Admin Bylaw
Collins Report: Issued 9/2022 – Almost four years after Personnel Board powers were stripped and board volunteers resigned or stepped down. Was a Vacant board for about 3 years. The New Personnel Bylaw incorporates a number of their recommendations, and this document is an asset to the newly restored personnel board.
Town Bylaws from 2016: I wanted to share the town bylaws from 2016 so that residents can see for themselves what powers the Personnel Board had, and that Town Administrator Bylaw simply did not exist in our bylaws at that time.
Fall Town Meeting Warrant from 10/29/2018: The Town meeting Warrant that was passed at a sparsely attended town meeting that revised the role and powers of the Personnel Board (Article 22) and created the Town Administrator as the “Personnel Director” of the town.
Fall Town Meeting Warrant from 10/28/2019: The Town meeting Warrant that was passed at a sparsely attended town meeting that created the “Town Administrator” Section of our Bylaw. (Article 29) and Article 30 was the final nail in the coffin for Personnel Board. A simple change of wording made all the difference… changed to “assist”… and struck out “establish”
