Charter Revision Commission urges term limits, council review of town property changes in New Canaan report

The New Canaan Town Council on May 11 reviewed a draft report from the Charter Revision Commission that recommends multiple changes to the town charter, including a cap on consecutive service in appointed roles and a new requirement that most changes to town-owned real property receive Town Council approval and could be subject to referendum.

Kathleen Corbett, introduced to the council as the commission's lead, summarized the commission's work and public outreach. She said the commission interviewed roughly 200 people, held 22 full-commission meetings and 34 smaller working sessions, and received 155 responses to an online survey. "Term limits not to exceed 12 consecutive years for appointed positions," Corbett said when listing the commission's proposed ballot items, and she outlined a separate recommendation that changes in use, capital leases, sales or transfers of town property be subject to the charter's referendum procedures.

Why it matters: The proposals would change how the town fills and oversees appointed boards and how significant property decisions can be challenged by voters. Requiring council review and the possibility of referendum on certain property transactions would introduce an additional check and could move some decisions from selectmen-level negotiation to a council vote and, potentially, a town-wide ballot.

Key recommendations and council questions - Term limits: The CRC proposes a cap of 12 consecutive years for appointed positions. The commission reported majority support for that change among commissioners while noting differences of opinion about extending term limits to elected officials. - Town property and referendum: The CRC recommended that "changes to town owned real property, including change in use as defined under New Canaan zoning regulations, capital lease, or sale, or transfer of town owned real property" require council approval and be subject to the charter's existing referendum procedures (the draft cites chapter and section references used in the commission's report). Corbett emphasized the referendum path would use the town's standard petition thresholds rather than make every such action automatically subject to a referendum. - Appointments: The commission asked that Planning & Zoning Commission appointments made by the Board of Selectmen require Town Council confirmation; that proposal applies only to appointments, not to elected offices. - Alternates/terms: The CRC proposed adding three alternates to the Ethics Board and adjusting some two-year terms on other commissions to three years for consistency; the Board of Finance and Housing Authority terms would remain longer where specified. - Recruitment, reporting and training: The report calls for a more formal appointment process (website postings and clearer application procedures), annual reporting from boards and commissions to the council, and more structured training for newly elected and appointed officials (examples cited include FOIA training and government accounting orientation for the Board of Finance).

Council members pressed the commission for specifics in several exchanges. On Planning & Zoning, the commission reported a close internal vote: "the vote before us was ... 6 voted yes [to retain appointment], 5 voted no," Corbett said, noting one alternate proposal (electing alternates) was not separately adopted because the main motion carried. Several council members sought clarity on when a referendum could be triggered and whether routine operating leases would be affected; CRC members and other participants explained that a capital lease or a change in use would be treated differently than an operating lease and could fall under the proposed review and referendum language.

Timeline, public hearings and publication costs Corbett reviewed the statutory and practical timeline: the council had received the draft on May 4 and the CRC recommended two council public hearings (the CRC and council mentioned May 27 and June 10). The council must submit recommendations to the CRC by June 25; the CRC then has 30 days to issue a final report (the commission projected a target around July 25) and the council's July 15 meeting was identified as important in the ballot schedule. Corbett also noted state law requires publication in a local newspaper and that prior full-publication costs were significant; the commission said one earlier distribution cost about $2,000 but that current estimates for full paid-circulation publication could be "like, $15,000," prompting discussion of library copies and other distribution methods.

Quotes - "Term limits not to exceed 12 consecutive years for appointed positions," Kathleen Corbett said while summarizing proposed ballot items. - On the recommendation for property oversight: Corbett said the proposal would "require Town Council approval for changes to town owned real property, including change in use as defined under New Canaan zoning regulations, capital lease, or sale, or transfer of town owned real property," and that such legislative action could be "subject to public referendum." - Chair (Town Council) praised the commission's volunteer work: "this town always continues to impress and amaze me by the quality and the caliber of the people that live here, who step up to serve," the Chair said in closing remarks.

What happens next The council moved to set its process for deliberation: public hearings are scheduled; council members may return recommendations to the CRC by June 25; the CRC expects to finalize a report within its 30-day statutory window. If charter amendments are approved to appear on the ballot, the council will need to plan for required publication and ballot logistics. The meeting adjourned on an all-in-favor vote.