Charter Review Committee - 10/28/2026

The Town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Charter Review Committee met on October 28, 2026. The committee approved the October 14 minutes and unanimously selected Lindsay as secretary, subject to the required town-council ratification process. It approved the detailed work plan, amended to include discussion of potential new charter sections on February 17 and to leave presentation dates to be determined. Members also approved a recommendation-tracking spreadsheet, with Ed responsible for maintaining it, and scheduled review of a committee presentation at the November 18 meeting.

The committee began reviewing charter language and approved changes to Sections 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-5, along with a group of proposed definitions; discussion of the definitions of “shall” and “emergency” was deferred. Members reviewed draft sections on public engagement and charter compliance for later consideration, including concerns about whether a compliance process could delay access to court. A motion concerning Article 10’s transitional provisions passed, while review of Article 9 was postponed and the committee planned to resume Article 1 at a future meeting. No procurement activity, contract awards, or spending decisions were identified.