Proposed Charter Revision Changes Part of Ballot

In addition to the candidate choices on Tuesday's election ballot will be proposed charter revision changes that were not validated in a referendum earlier this year. That vote was considered a special election and required 15 percent of qualified voters to validate the changes. There is no such requirement this time. 

The proposed charter changes are in the elections for board of selectmen and emergency authority sections. Earlier this year selectmen appointed a commission to fix what most described as a mistake during a prevision revision process that allowed political parties to nominate and electors to vote for just two selectmen candidates in addition to the first selectman.

Historically the number had been three but in a previous charter revision process it was changed when staggered terms were under consideration. When that idea was scrapped, commission members forgot to change the number back, selectmen said earlier this year. 

Selectmen felt the error leaves too few choices for a board that has four selectmen in addition to the first selectman. 

The proposed changes, devised earlier this year, would create staggered terms and allow political parties to nominate as many candidates as there are available positions. Voters could also vote for as many candidates as there are positions open. 

The other proposed charter change is in the Emergency Authority section, including the means for a third selectman to declare a temporary state of Emergency in the absence of the First Selectman and Deputy First Selectman. 

Complete copies of the proposed sections can be found on the town's Web site.