Charlton selects Feb. 18 special town meeting date to consider making town clerk an appointed post

The Charlton Select Board voted Jan. 14 to schedule a special town meeting for 7 p.m. Feb. 18, 2025, after town staff certified a citizens’ petition to consider changing the town clerk position from elected to appointed.

Town staff told the board the petition, submitted Jan. 8, included the signatures required under the Town of Charlton bylaw (referred to in the meeting packet as Chapter 15-3) and Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 39, Section 10; the office confirmed the required number of 200 registered-voter signatures had been certified. Under state law and local rules, the meeting must be held no later than 45 days after certification; staff recommended Feb. 18 as an available date and the board approved it.

A board member moved to set the special town meeting for Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.; the motion was seconded and approved. Staff said a warrant would be prepared and provided to the board at its next meeting.

Board members noted procedural steps that will follow: distribution of the warrant, public notice, and the possibility that the article will be debated and voted by town meeting attendees on Feb. 18. The board did not take a position on the substance of the proposed change in this meeting; it set only the date for the special town meeting to consider the petition.

The board clerk will post meeting details once the warrant is finalized.