The Charter Revision Commission voted May 8 to leave intact language naming the First Selectman as the appointing authority for a proposed chief operating officer and to retain the provision that the COO be “ex officio without vote.”

Commissioners spent more than an hour debating how much authority the COO should have and whether the role should be insulated from short-term politics. The commission considered proposals to have the Board of Selectmen confirm the appointment, to require a formal nomination-plus-confirmation step, or to give the COO a fixed multi‑year term to overlap administrations. No change to appointing authority or the draft ex officio language was adopted.

Why it matters: The COO is intended to act as the first Selectman’s chief administrator, attending commission meetings and representing administration priorities. Commissioners and callers said clarity is needed on whether the COO can make motions, participate in executive sessions or otherwise exercise powers beyond discussion. Those questions affect how the town’s daily administration will interact with appointed boards and boards’ independence.

Most commissioners said they supported a participatory but noncontrolling role for the COO. Commissioner McHenry and others argued the position should be “streamlining” rather than a replacement for elected officials; Commissioner Gerber stressed the office should give the First Selectman tools to run government. CRC attorney Jason Buschbaum explained the standard parliamentary meaning of ex officio: “An ex officio member is a member without vote of the body who can make motions, second others' motions, but can't second a motion made by an ex officio member.”

Commissioners asked whether an ex officio COO could attend executive session. Town counsel Phil (town attorney) advised that attendance for executive session generally follows FOIA rules and that non-members may be invited when their testimony or presence is necessary. Commissioners explored narrower language to preserve discussion rights while preventing the COO from directing votes or routinely moving motions on boards. A motion to “keep the language as is” (retaining ex officio without vote) was made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

The commission also considered, but did not adopt, an amendment to create a guaranteed multi-year term for the COO. Some residents had suggested a 6‑year minimum so the office would bridge administrations; several commissioners opposed embedding a quasi‑town‑manager term in the charter rather than leaving the option open via employment agreements.

The commission closed the COO item after clarifying that the current draft reads “ex officio without vote,” and after voting to leave appointment authority with the First Selectman and to retain the ex officio, nonvoting status as written.

Looking ahead: Commissioners asked staff and counsel to confirm draft language will make clear that ex officio status permits participation in discussion but not voting or making motions that would effectively place the COO in the same role as an appointed board member. The commission agreed to forward the full draft charter, including this COO language, to the Board of Selectmen for review.