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West Haven hearing draws public support for four-year mayoral term and calls to clarify alternates, contracts and board oversight
Summary
At a March 26 public hearing, speakers and council members backed moving the mayor's term from two to four years and urged clearer charter language on alternate commissioners, contract approval thresholds and board-of-education oversight. The commission heard public comment, council recommendations and legal-timetable concerns.
Arthur Kelly, chair of the West Haven Charter Revision Commission, opened a special public hearing on March 26 and invited residents and officials to comment on proposed charter changes.
Frederick Brown, who identified himself as a commissioner with the West Haven Fire Department, urged clearer charter language on the role of “alternate commissioners.” "I'd like to ask the commission to look at the definitions of alternate commissioner," Brown said, arguing alternates should be appointed when a regular member is absent and that the charter should specify whether alternates may participate in meetings and executive sessions.
Several speakers and city council members endorsed changing the mayoral term to four years. "I am in support of the possibility of taking the 2 year mayor's term to go to 4 years," Thomas McKeown, a resident,…
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