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Council opens public hearing on charter amendments including clerk appointment and 10% fund‑balance cap
Summary
Barre City Council held the first public hearing on proposed charter changes that would allow the council to appoint and remove the city clerk, expand persons authorized to sign real‑estate documents, and raise the allowed general‑fund balance to 10% of annual expenditures.
The Barre City Council on April 8 opened a required public hearing on proposed amendments to the city charter that would: allow the council to appoint and remove the city clerk (instead of electing the clerk), clarify who may sign deeds and grants on behalf of the city, and permit the city to retain up to 10% of annual expenditures in the general fund balance.
Why it matters: Changing the clerk from an elected to an appointed office and raising the maximum general‑fund balance are material charter changes that would alter accountability and fiscal policy. The first hearing drew both council discussion and public comment.
Public comment and council debate Former city clerk Harold Oz spoke against converting the clerk to an appointed office: “I think it’s important that the position continue to be elected,” he told the council, arguing that the clerk serves as an independent official and chief election officer whose independence should be preserved. Several councilors said they would place the question on the ballot for voters to decide; one councilor expressed concern about the lack of a removal mechanism for an elected official and said language to allow removal of a narrowly defined failing officeholder could be researched for a future charter change.
On the fund‑balance change, the manager and finance director explained the practical impact of increasing the allowed unassigned general fund balance from the current 5% cap to 10%, saying the change would provide a larger reserve and reduce the need for repeated emergency transfers. A majority of councilors signaled support for the 10% figure as an easier‑to‑explain policy to voters.
Process note: The council voted to warn the charter amendments for voter consideration and will hold a second, statutorily required public hearing before the question appears on the ballot. Councilors were reminded that the second hearing will be informational only and that the warned language cannot be altered between hearings.
Ending: With the first hearing concluded, the council said it would schedule the second hearing in roughly two weeks and directed staff to publish the warned language and explanatory materials for voters.
