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Charter review panel weighs governance changes: town manager role, term lengths and party representation
Summary
The Charter Revision Commission discussed whether to clarify that the town manager reports to the Board of Selectmen, extend selectmen terms from two to four years, add staggered terms, and create clearer pathways for unaffiliated candidates. No charter language was adopted; commissioners asked staff for options and legal guidance.
Simsbury’s Charter Revision Commission debated several governance and electoral questions Wednesday, including whether to clarify the relationship between the Board of Selectmen and the town manager, extend the board’s term from two to four years, require staggered terms, and change how party and unaffiliated candidates gain access to local office.
Several commissioners said the town manager role should be defined as the chief administrative officer while the board should remain the policy-setting body. “I am of the opinion that the Board of Selectmen should be the CEO and that the town manager should be the chief administrative official,” one commissioner said, arguing for clearer job delineation in the…
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