Voters weighed in on local issues last week, passing six of seven ballot questions on topics that ranged from stormwater management to the composition of the School Committee. Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. and City Council President Robert V. Russo said they were pleased with the results, and that voters have left the town in a good position to move forward on a number of fronts.

The only ballot question to fail was the proposal to create a position of auxiliary probate judge. Noting that presiding over probate court is a specialty area, Polisena said that while he understands voters’ reluctance to add a new government position, the result is that the town will not be able to expedite the handling of wills and other probate issues. Russo concurred saying, “I think the courts need flexibility in scheduling and having an auxiliary probate judge will guarantee that court sessions do not get rescheduled due to the unavailability of a single judge.

“The expense of an auxiliary probate judge is minimal,” he added, “and the benefit far outweighs the cost.”

Perhaps the most important local ballot question was a $40 million bond referendum enabling the town to improve its stormwater management and sewer facilities. It was approved overwhelmingly by voters, with about 75% voting yes.  Polisena and Russo said the town has already put together a plan to reduce flooding and address stormwater management and will now be able to move forward with that work. “With the recent weather cycles, it is clear we have serious flooding issues,” Russo said, “and we (needed) to obtain funding to formulate a plan to prevent further harm and expense to Johnston citizens due to destructive rain and flooding.”

A proposal to nearly double the size of the School Committee and add appointed members as well as elected ones, passed by fairly narrow margin with about 52% of the vote.  The change will increase the board from five to nine members, including two members appointed by the mayor and two appointed by the Town Council.  Currently, all five school board members are elected. This change also gives town government a more direct say in school matters. 

“The school department is the largest budget driver in the town and involves one of the most important roles to citizens of the town – education of our children so that they can flourish in our complex world,” Russo said. “I strongly believe there are extremely knowledgeable people in the community that can bring a positive dynamic and real-world solutions to issues confronting our school department. However, these same people do not get involved because they cannot afford or have the skills to run a political campaign. 

Appointments (to the school board) would solve this problem and bring a new dimension to creating solutions to school department challenges, he said.

On another governance issue, voters decided to change the term length of Town Council members from two years to four years.  That proposal was supported by about 58% of voters.

Other local questions approved on Election Day were:

• A requirement that all elected and appointed officers and employees of town government including the schools and the School Committee, be required to abide by the state and local code of ethics.
• A change in the charter that now allows the town budge to be presented by June 1 instead of April 1. Russo said that the April 1 date was early in the budget process and the change gives the town to time find out more information, such as state aid, when putting together its spending proposal for every year.
• A requirement that the Town Council and School Department complete annul audits in compliance with government auditing standards.
• A requirement that all elected and appointed town and school officials abide by state and local codes of ethics.