Committee reviews H.516 to update Essex town charter; town vote totals presented

The Southern Government Operations Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on H.516, a bill to implement a set of charter changes approved by Essex voters at March 2025 town meeting. Representative Leonora Dodge, the House sponsor, and Greg Duggan, Town Manager for Essex, told the committee the edits are largely cleanup and governance clarifications tied to recommendations from the town’s Charter Review Committee.

The measure bundles several changes voters approved at town meeting. Greg Duggan read the reported town totals: the article to clarify the town moderator’s role passed (yes 909, no 74, blank 24); changing timing for approval of select board minutes passed (yes 758, no 183, blank 66); changing appointments made by the select board and town manager passed (yes 720, no 208, blank 79); requiring mailed notice to residents about the availability of the annual report and auditor’s report passed (yes 675, no 286, blank 46); renaming the Department of…