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Charter Revision Commission amends minutes to record Board of Selectmen advisory-designation and zoning litigation participation discussion
Summary
The commission amended minutes to reflect a proposal that examples of possible charter changes include designating other boards and commissions as advisory and allowing the Board of Selectmen to participate in decision-making for zoning litigation; the motion to amend the minutes passed unanimously.
At the April 15 meeting the Charter Revision Commission voted to amend the minutes of its April 1 meeting to clarify language about examples of proposed changes relating to the Board of Selectmen.
The revised minutes now read, in part: "Some examples of proposed changes would include designating other boards and commissions as advisory." The commission also added language reflecting a separate proposal that the Board of Selectmen be able "to participate in decision making with respect to zoning litigation," language intended to capture a written comment from Town Manager Mark Nelson and others about involving the Board of Selectmen in litigation arising from zoning decisions.
Vice Chair Henault moved the amendment to the minutes; the motion was seconded and the commission approved the change. The transcript records the vote as "Aye" with no detailed roll-call in the public transcript; the commission accepted a friendly amendment to the motion clarifying the phrasing as "examples of proposed changes would include designating other boards and commissions as advisory."
Why it matters: The amended minutes make explicit that commissioners considered a change to the charter that could reclassify some boards as advisory and that the Board of Selectmen could have a participatory role in zoning-related litigation, a topic the commission said it will research further.
Commission staff said they will research Connecticut towns where a legislative body serves as the ultimate zoning authority and report back; commissioners emphasized the need to verify how authority, privilege and litigation involvement intersect before drafting final charter language.
