Board backs studying a home-rule charter; staff outline estimated outreach, legal and election costs

Trustees discussed pursuing a home-rule charter and asked staff to budget for public education, legal counsel and potential election costs to determine whether residents would support the change.

Staff outlined an illustrative budget range: marketing and community education campaigns (vendor firms such as Slate or Magellan were suggested), a public survey to gauge resident support, outside legal counsel for charter drafting and commission support (budgeted in the presentation at roughly $25,000), and the cost of a special election (budgeted by staff at about $45,000). Staff told trustees the town would seek to time election phases so that either the charter-commission election or a final charter approval could coincide with an existing municipal or coordinated election to reduce costs.

Trustees largely supported advancing public education and survey work as the next step, but several trustees cautioned that trust and perceptions of local government may affect voter response. One trustee urged significant outreach, town halls and carefully worded surveys to inform residents. Trustees noted that home rule can enable local policy tools such as a lodging tax for marketing and local control over statutory issues previously governed by the state. No final commitment to a special election or charter language was made; staff will return recommended outreach vendors, a survey instrument, and estimated costs for the next budget steps.