Council Planning To Seat Another Charter Review Panel

By John Voket

Legislative Council Chairman Jeff Capeci announced August 1 that he has asked the chairs of the recent Charter Revision Selection and Charge Committees to reactivate in anticipation of initiating a new charter review process shortly after the current, narrowly charged committee has completed its work.

The current nine-member panel is working on an expedited schedule in the hope of getting a revision regarding the local budget ballot before voters in this November’s election. The current panel is asked to recommend whether the town should go to a split or bifurcated budget between the schools and municipality, and whether to include budget questions on the local ballot.

That commission is expected to complete its work on August 20.

Mr Capeci said the Selection Committee, chaired by Councilman Paul Lundquist, should determine if any of the existing commissioners are interested in continuing their service on the fall commission, as well as interviewing any qualified residents who may want to serve. The Selection Committee also includes Representatives Robert Merola and Phil Carroll and council Vice Chair Mary Ann Jacob.

Concurrently, the Charge Committee, headed by Dan Wiedemann, will begin scheduling meetings with town officials who want to offer ideas on possible changes to the community’s constitutional document. Representatives Dan Honan, George Ferguson, and Kathryn Fetchick also serve on the Charge Committee.

Solicitations for interested residents who want to serve on the fall charter commission will be posted in The Bee once the current review process has finished.