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West Haven charter commission pares 23 suggestions to 13 priorities, targets mayoral term, contracts and library rules
Summary
The Charter Revision Commission narrowed 23 public suggestions to 13 priority items, including a proposed move to four‑year mayoral and some elected‑official terms, council approval thresholds for large contracts, review of library/Village Improvement Association governance, and a motion to make the draft gender‑neutral.
The West Haven Charter Revision Commission on an evening meeting consolidated 23 public suggestions into 13 priority items and set a schedule to prepare a draft report for the city council. Members agreed to keep work on several structural items — including changing the mayoral term length and council terms, clarifying contract‑approval thresholds, and reviewing the library’s governance — for further research and drafting.
The commission approved the meeting minutes as revised and then moved into a line‑by‑line review of public suggestions, which had been compiled into a master list. The chair said the commission’s immediate task was to identify what belongs in the charter versus what can be handled by ordinance. Counsel advised that some items, such as creating youth or animal commissions, can be achieved by ordinance and need not be placed in the charter.
On terms of office, members discussed changing the mayor and several elected officials from two‑year to four‑year terms and whether council terms should be staggered to preserve institutional memory. The commission also debated the tax collector position, noting that while Eric Murillo is often listed as the tax collector, operational duties are performed by a tax manager — prompting discussion about whether to keep, remove, or rename the charter position.
Financial governance and procurement featured prominently. Counsel told the group there is no single statewide ‘‘standard’’ for council approval thresholds but said a $100,000 threshold and limits on multi‑year commitments were common conversation points; he also recommended defining "contract" in charter language to avoid loopholes such as one‑year contracts with option years.
Library oversight was raised as a complex issue: the Village Improvement Association historically operates the public library, but the city provides the majority of its funding. Commissioners asked counsel to obtain the VIA’s founding documents to determine whether charter changes or other remedies are needed.
The commission voted to authorize attorneys to begin gender‑neutral edits to the charter text and to include that work in the draft report to council. Members also agreed that staff would circulate updated charter language and background materials ahead of the next meeting and that a public hearing would be scheduled in mid‑ to late May.
The commission deferred final decisions on many items pending legal research, background documents (including the library’s governing documents), and additional agenda materials the attorneys will provide at forthcoming meetings.
