Fairfield Charter Revision Commission approves residency tweak, staffing and technical requirements and asks attorney to clarify RTM status

The Fairfield Charter Revision Commission voted April 10 to adopt a series of targeted edits to its draft town charter and to request a formal attorney opinion on whether Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members should be included in the draft definition of “town official.”

Commission members voted to add a six‑month grace period to the residency requirement for certain town officers, clarified who may be delegated duties by the first selectperson, approved language directing that the town engineer be a professional engineer registered in Connecticut, and limited removal of the newly proposed internal auditor to removal only for cause. The panel also approved adding language that would let the RTM retain independent legal counsel.

The changes came during a line‑by‑line review of a consolidated draft that Vice Chairman Phil circulated after the commission’s prior meeting. The chairman opened the session by confirming the commission’s town‑meeting location for the public hearing: May 1 at the Fairfield Fire Training School on Richard White Way, which he said the commission and town attorney consider large enough for expected attendance.

Why it matters: the edits clarify legal protections and operational rules the town government would use if voters approve a revised charter. Several decisions affect how executives and technical staff are hired and removed, who may represent or advise the RTM, and what qualifications the town will require for technical positions — items that shape municipal services and long‑term planning.

Key votes and directions

- Residency: The commission approved an amendment to the residency clause (charter paragraph 3.1(a)) to allow appointees who do not reside within the town’s 25‑mile recruitment zone to establish town residency within six months after taking office. The motion was made and seconded and passed by voice vote.

- Department heads / removals: The commission voted to delete paragraph 3.6(b), removing a cross‑reference that would have required cause for removal of department heads in that general section. Instead, the commission kept removal rules located with each individual office’s description so terms and removal provisions are handled in the position‑specific language. That deletion passed on a recorded voice vote.

- Delegation by the first selectperson: The commission revised language giving the first selectperson the ability to delegate authority “to appropriate town officials.” That change replaced an earlier, narrower phrasing and was approved unanimously.

- Town engineer qualification: Commissioners voted to require that the town engineer be a “professional engineer registered in the State of Connecticut” and to identify that position as the town’s chief technical adviser to departments (except the board of education). That substitution was adopted by the commission.

- Internal auditor removal: The commission voted that the internal auditor may be removed only for cause by the appointing authority (the board of selectmen). The motion passed unanimously.

- RTM counsel: The commission added a provision (new 4.1(c)) clarifying that the Representative Town Meeting has the right to retain legal counsel; commissioners discussed whether that should mean independent legal counsel and voted to add the right to retain counsel.

- Compensation process: Commissioners directed staff to draft a new compensation section (proposed 6.1(h)) to record how compensation for the first selectperson and selectpersons is set. The commission asked staff to consult CCM (the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) or HR and to present suggested language at a future meeting.

Attorney follow‑ups and unresolved items

The commission asked the town attorney for a written opinion on whether RTM members are already included by existing charter language in the definition of “town official” (Section 1.3). Commissioners noted prior attorney guidance that adding RTM into the definition could have far‑reaching, unintended consequences because the charter uses the term in many places; the commission requested a formal memorandum clarifying: (1) whether RTM membership currently counts as a town officer/official and (2) if not, what the impacts would be of explicitly including RTM members in the town‑official definition.

Other clarifications and staff directions

- The commission asked staff to produce a redline of the current draft incorporating the April 10 changes and to post it on the commission’s page for public review. Commissioners agreed the redline should be available before the public meeting and that any late inputs received through the commission website would be flagged for review.

- The commission agreed to keep its public hearing schedule: a public meeting on May 1 at the Fire Training School; commissioners also scheduled a contingency meeting on April 24 in case more time is needed to finalize the draft for posting before the public hearing.

What the commission did not decide

Commissioners debated but did not change, without further legal advice, whether the term “town official” should explicitly include RTM members (the attorney follow‑up item). They also deferred detailed drafting of the compensation language to staff and counsel before finalizing that paragraph.

Next steps and timeline

Staff was asked to prepare: (1) a redline showing the April 10 edits for posting, (2) the draft compensation language for 6.1(h) after HR/CCM input, and (3) a written town‑attorney opinion about the RTM/town‑official definition. The commission’s public hearing is set for May 1; the commission scheduled April 24 as a backup meeting if additional time is required before posting the public draft.

Ending note: Chairman (unnamed) closed the special meeting after unanimous voice votes on the items before the commission.

Votes at a glance (selected motions recorded in the meeting record)

- Add six‑month residency grace period to charter paragraph 3.1(a) — Motion made on April 10; seconded by Commissioner Tresik; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Delete charter paragraph 3.6(b) (removal cross‑reference) — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Add 4.1(c) to allow RTM to retain legal counsel — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Require town engineer to be a professional engineer (Connecticut registration) and serve as chief technical adviser — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Internal auditor removable only for cause — Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

(For procedural completeness: several additional editorial and cross‑reference edits were adopted during the session; staff will publish a redline for public review.)

Sources: draft CRC transcript of the April 10 special meeting; motions and voice votes recorded on the meeting record.