Charter Revision Commission considers uniform attendance and removal rule for appointed boards

Charter Revision Commissioners discussed a proposal from the Aging & Disability Commission to add a uniform attendance rule to the charter that would remove appointed members who miss two-thirds of a board’s regular meetings in a calendar year.

Ed Longmontagne, chair of the Aging and Disability Commission, submitted written comments recommending that "any member of an appointed board who does not attend at least two-thirds of the regular meetings scheduled during the calendar year shall be considered removed from such board, and his or her place shall be considered vacant," with a duty for the board chair to notify the Board of Selectmen of the vacancy.

Commissioners reviewed out-of-town examples. Ridgefield’s code, cited in discussion, provides for removal for cause by the appointing board but requires notice and an opportunity for the member to respond; commissioners said Ridgefield also includes an automatic removal-if-absent provision in some instances.

Why it matters: Several commissioners said chronic nonattendance can hinder quorum and the functioning of larger boards, and a uniform charter rule could provide clarity. Others cautioned that removal should generally involve the appointing authority and some form of due process rather than being strictly automatic.

Charter counsel and commissioners suggested options: keep the proposed automatic rule, allow the appointing authority (usually the Board of Selectmen) to make removals following a recommendation, or add an objective standard tied to unexcused absences with notice requirements. No final charter language was adopted; commissioners asked staff to compile examples and possible wording for future meetings.