[Update] Selectmen Choose New Charter Revision Committee

The new nine-member Charter Revision Committee was appointment by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) with the hopes that a larger, rather than smaller, group can get the ball rolling on a big to-do list.

After some discussion by the members of the BOS, it was agreed that a nine member committee would be the ideal number. By state statute, a town charter revision committee or commission can have from five to 15 members.

The aggressive time line means that any proposed changes to the town charter (the rules of government) must be in the hands of the town clerk, in the form of a question or questions, by September 13 to be included on the November 6 Election Day ballot.

Prior to this date, they must advertise and hold public hearings. Any changes need to be submitted and subsequently approved by the selectmen before the questions can appear on the ballot.

What makes choosing the interested parties a bit tricky is that only three members of the nine-member board can hold elected or appointed positions (such as someone who currently is a member of the Board of Finance or Planning & Zoning Commission) and there cannot be a super-majority of one political party on the committee.

Selectman Carol Walter was not in favor of having representatives of the Board of Finance on this committee, as she "didn't think Board of Finance members need this appointment to write their own rule book."

First Selectman Willie Fritz said the committee should be "bi-partisan."

After each member of the Board of Selectmen had their say in who they'd like to see on the board from those who submitted their names for inclusion, the number of votes for each person were totalled and the final list is as follows:

1. Thomas Terribile, Unaffiliated

2. Jane Welch, Democrat

3. Len Cahill, Republican

4. Ed Miller, Republican

5. Michael Galwey, Unaffiliated

6. Sally Cotter, Democrat

7. Brad Sullivan, Democrat

8. Omar Francis, Republican

9. Tom Hollinger, Republican