Charter committee standardizes most appointed terms at three years; alternates to remain two years

The New Canaan Charter Revision Commission voted unanimously on March 25 to recommend that regular members of appointed town boards and commissions (excluding elected bodies and the Board of Finance) serve three‑year terms rather than the shorter two‑year terms currently used by a few commissions.

Commissioners reviewed a chart of existing term lengths and examples from nearby towns. Jennifer Holm and others argued that three‑year terms improve continuity, reduce administrative reappointment burdens and allow members to gain experience on technically demanding boards. "I think three years is a reasonable term for the commissioners," Holm said.

Chris Casease moved the measure to set regular appointed terms to three years; the motion was seconded and carried in a unanimous roll‑call vote. Commissioners agreed that elected bodies (for example, the Board of Education) remain on their existing cycles and that the Board of Finance (a four‑year term) is an outlier that need not change.

Separately, the commission voted to keep alternate members on two‑year terms. Supporters said alternates play an apprenticeship role and shorter alternates’ terms provide flexibility for residents who want to try serving without a long commitment; others said alternates increasingly participate due to hybrid/Zoom meetings but recommended retaining shorter terms for recruiting purposes.

The commission asked staff to collect current incumbency data from the town clerk so members can assess how many individuals would be affected under any future term‑limit proposal and to prepare updated charter language for articles where term language is silent or inconsistent.

The commission will carry these recommended term changes into its draft report for the town council to review.