Charter Review Committee - 06/04/2026

The Town of Bridgewater, MA Charter Review Committee convened on June 4, 2026, primarily to organize the committee leadership and discuss the scope and process for reviewing the town charter. The committee elected Scott P. as chair, Eric as vice chair, and Brad as secretary. The discussion emphasized the importance of gathering public input through listening sessions and surveys to assess whether the current council-manager form of government remains effective or if alternative forms should be considered. The committee reviewed the history of prior charter reviews and highlighted the need for clear communication with residents about the committee's role and limitations. They also debated the use of social media for committee discussions, ultimately deciding to avoid deliberations on platforms like Facebook to comply with open meeting laws. The committee planned to focus the summer months on data gathering and analysis, with a structured schedule for reviewing charter chapters. No specific procurement, contracting, or budget decisions were made during this meeting.