Town Charter Ad Hoc Committee 10/26/2026

The Town Charter Ad Hoc Committee met on October 26, 2026, to discuss its charge and possible charter amendments. Members and town officials explained that substantive changes—such as staggered council or school committee terms, changes to elected versus appointed positions, and other charter revisions—would likely proceed through a home rule petition to the state Legislature and then a local ballot vote, rather than a full charter commission. The committee discussed priorities and public outreach, including inviting elected and appointed boards to a future meeting. Potential topics included election timing, council compensation, the town clerk’s elected status, the role of a mayor, board composition, and bylaw notice periods. No specific charter changes were adopted; a motion to adjourn was approved.

No contracts, vendor selections, bids, or procurement approvals were identified. A participant noted that combining local and state elections could require additional voting equipment and might entail roughly $80,000–$100,000 in capital investment; this was a hypothetical cost, not an allocation or purchasing decision.