DURHAM, CT — The Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to remove a proposed town administrator position from Durham's charter revision package and unanimously agreed to give voters separate choices in November on expanding the board and changing the town clerk and tax collector from elected to appointed positions.
The decisions came during a special meeting Aug. 24 as the selectmen reviewed the Charter Revision Commission's final report and determined which proposed changes would advance toward the November 2026 general election.
First Selectman Brendan Rea, Selectman Rob Chadd and Selectman Tom Hennick attended the meeting, along with Town Attorney Rich Roberts.
Rea moved to remove the town administrator position from the proposed charter amendments. Hennick seconded the motion.
The proposal passed 2-1, with Rea and Chadd voting in favor and Hennick opposed.
The selectmen also unanimously removed a provision that would have required the board, within 12 months of adoption of the revised charter, to establish a written administrative handbook or policy describing the roles, responsibilities, duties and operating practices of the first selectman and Board of Selectmen.
Under the proposed provision, the document would have been advisory, consistent with the charter and state law, and updated at least annually.
In another unanimous vote, the board removed proposed Section 8.2 concerning fire protection services and agreed instead to retain the language in Durham's current charter.
Rea made the motion, which Chadd seconded.
The selectmen unanimously agreed that two significant proposed changes should appear as separate questions on the November ballot rather than being bundled together.
One question will ask voters whether to expand the Board of Selectmen from a first selectman and two selectmen to a first selectman and four selectmen.
The other will address changing the tax collector and town clerk from elected to appointed positions.
Hennick made the motion to present the proposals as separate questions, with Rea seconding it. All three selectmen voted in favor.
After making those changes, the board unanimously voted to accept the Charter Revision Commission's final report except for the provisions altered or removed during the meeting.
The commission submitted its final report to the Board of Selectmen in August. The town has also made a redlined version of the proposed charter amendments available with the report.
The selectmen then unanimously approved explanatory text for the November ballot.
The special meeting began at 7 p.m. on the third floor of Durham Town Hall, 30 Town House Road, and was also available remotely through Zoom. It adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
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