# Charter Review Committee Public Forum

The HCAM Charter Review Committee held a public forum on October 1, 2026, to gather feedback on proposed changes for the town’s 10-year charter review. No votes or procurement actions were taken. Discussion covered possible governance changes, including making the cemetery commission appointed, adjusting select board confirmation of town manager appointments, electing one Community Preservation Committee at-large member, changing the town clerk from elected to appointed, expanding the Board of Health from three to five members, clarifying department and board roles in hiring and employee reviews, revising how the finance committee is appointed, and modifying recall requirements. Residents and affected board members offered differing views, and several urged the committee to gather more evidence before recommending structural changes. The CPC presentation cited an accumulated balance of about $8.3 million, with roughly $6 million earmarked for reuse of Center School; no new funding decision was made.

The committee expects to continue gathering feedback and aims to present a final draft at the May 2027 annual town meeting. Members discussed whether to use the Chapter 43B, Section 10 process—which requires a two-thirds town meeting vote and a subsequent ballot—or pursue a special act, which town counsel recommended as a faster route but would not require a binding ballot vote. The committee noted that a special-act approach could potentially allow the revised charter to be completed in 2027; no process choice was finalized.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Sources
- [Charter Review Committee Public Forum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQc1P60-uQ) - HCAM