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11/29/2022 02:33 PM

Town Charter Heads to Public Hearing


Clinton’s Charter Revision Commission (CRC) is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. for residents to provide feedback on proposed charter changes.

The Town Charter is a document that outlines the roles and bylaws for the different boards, commissions, and town departments in Clinton. Earlier this year, the Town Council began discussing the need to update sections of the charter, and the Council ultimately agreed to appoint a new CRC to consider changes.

The proposed changes will be posted on the town website and hard copies are available for public inspection in the town clerk's office.

Earlier this year the Town Council formally charged the CRC with considering nine proposed changes. Some are minor fixes such as removing references to the Board of Selectmen. Other changes, though, are more significant. Among those proposed changes, the Council is asking for is the ability to hire a town manager for a term of longer than three years. Other major proposed changes include increasing the amount of money the town can appropriate without a referendum and the cancellation of the required annual town meeting.

By statute, the CRC must weigh in on the specific proposed changes from the Council. However, the CRC can also propose additional changes that members of the commission or members of the public suggest. Before the CRC got to work a public hearing was held in August where the public was able to suggest more proposed changes for the council to consider.