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Charter reviewers propose clearer vacancy, posting and hearing steps for appointments
Summary
Commissioners discussed creating a clearer appointment and vacancy process: posting open seats, requiring notice and public comment when selectmen nominate candidates for key boards, and routing confirmations for certain commissions to town council for a second look.
Commissioners discussed reforms to how the town fills appointed positions and how the public learns about vacancies.
A commissioner proposed language to require that when the board of selectmen nominates a person for an appointment (particularly for important bodies such as planning & zoning, finance, audit and ethics), the nomination be noticed as an agenda item and the public be given opportunity to comment before the selectmen make a final decision. The idea is to create an accessible posting process so residents know when vacancies exist and can voice support or concerns before confirmation to the town council.
The group argued that routing confirmations for certain boards to town council would introduce an additional check and balance. One commissioner described this as a substitute for holding elections for some positions, noting it would "give a little bit" of oversight beyond selectmen nominations. Another raised that historically few nominees have been rejected, but the proposed process would give residents a clear forum to register objections prior to reappointment.
The commission also discussed statutory minority-representation language (referred to in the meeting as '9-167a') and the appropriate timeframe for the board of selectmen to fill vacancies — debating 15 days versus 30 days. Commissioners expressed practical concerns about meeting a 15-day deadline and suggested 30 days may be more workable for some offices, while noting other charter sections already reference 15-day rules.
No formal charter changes were adopted at the meeting; commissioners tasked staff to draft suggested language for clearer posting, notice and confirmation steps and to refer those drafts to legal counsel and to the full commission.
