Mayor Calls for Governance Reforms to Strengthen Collaboration and Transparency in Newburyport
September 4, 2025September 3, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mayor Calls for Governance Reforms to Strengthen Collaboration and Transparency in Newburyport
Newburyport, MA — Mayor Sean Reardon called for a renewed spirit of collaboration in city government, citing the need to move past recent tensions between the executive branch and the City Council.
“Newburyport is a community that takes pride in rising to challenges together,” the Mayor said. “Democracy, by its nature, can be messy. We won’t always agree and that’s okay. But disagreement should never become a roadblock to progress.”
The Mayor acknowledged growing frustration between the Council and administration. There is a need to refocus efforts on complex issues such as housing, climate resiliency, infrastructure, and public safety. Find solutions to these issues demand a cooperative approach across all levels of city government.
In partnership with Councillor Ben Harman, the Mayor announced a series of proposed reforms aimed at improving effectiveness, transparency, and communication within city governance. Key proposals include:
Agenda-Setting Workshops: These workshops would be held at the start of each City Council term to establish shared goals and timelines for policy discussions, fostering early alignment between the Council and the administration.
Public Policy Tracker: A new public-facing online tool would allow residents to track policy initiatives, improving transparency and helping residents stay informed and engaged with city government.
Improved Inter-Branch Communication: Procedural changes will be introduced to facilitate more structured and effective communication between the executive and legislative branches. While respecting the City Charter’s separation of powers, the goal is to encourage productive dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
“These kinds of reforms are already working in other cities across the Commonwealth,” the Mayor noted. “We should be learning from them and innovating our own processes to better serve the people of Newburyport.”
The Mayor emphasized that these initiatives are only the beginning, welcoming additional input from City Councillors and the public. “We cannot allow national political divisions to erode our trust in local government,” the Mayor said. “Now more than ever, we must recommit to civic engagement, respectful dialogue, and a shared mission to serve our community.”
“As elected officials, we must rise above discord and lead with unity, respect, and purpose,” the Mayor concluded. “Our Charter provides the legal framework, but it’s up to us to live out its spirit every day.”
