PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Charter Review Committee has made suggestions that they hope will prevent charter objections from crippling agenda items.

This especially applies to the budget process, as it caused unrest two years ago when a former councilor charter objected in the 11th hour.

"We don't want a charter objection involving the budget process at all once it's moving because any delay can throw everything off," Chair Michael McCarthy said.

The committee will propose amendments to Article 2 Section 9C, Charter Objection, to allow for discussion, require three supporters, and be prohibited when it pertains to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The motion became a prominent tactic during the budget hearings last year when Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick called a charter objection on the $189 million fiscal 2023 budget and derailed the vote.  Because of this, a budget was adopted by default but former mayor Linda Tyer agreed to apply $116,000 in recommended increases from the council after the matter.

During a press conference, Tyer said the charter objection caused "manufactured chaos" and (then council president) Peter Marchetti described it as "very reckless."

Kronick caused unrest again the next year when he motioned a charter objection against waiving a Finance Committee review for three time-sensitive orders.

"The biggest issue, which I think was the issue that caused us to really get together, is the charter objection,"  McCarthy said.