Charlton zoning board moves to update rules, recommends two residents for appointment

At its May 19 meeting the Town of Charlton Zoning Board of Appeals asked the board clerk to revise the board’s rules to reflect current practice and statutory references, and to submit those revisions to town counsel for review before the board votes on final language.

Members identified multiple items for revision: removing a bylaw provision requiring the board to administer oaths to witnesses; clarifying the secretary appointment and employment status; adding language implementing the town’s acceptance of the “Mullen rule” (which allows an absent board member to vote after reviewing recordings and signing an affidavit); allowing findings of fact to be formalized either before or after a decision; and replacing fixed timeframes in the rules with a cross‑reference to the controlling state statute so the bylaw will remain consistent if state timelines change.

The board also resolved to eliminate duplicated or obsolete sections that appear in older and edited drafts of the rules and to ask the town administrator to arrange a town‑counsel review. The motion directing the clerk, Dale, to prepare revised rules and forward them to town counsel passed unanimously.

Separately, the board voted to recommend two residents—Ryan Black and Aljani (Al) Stanley—for appointment by the selectmen as members/alternates of the zoning board; the board discussed duties, meeting cadence and how alternates participate in votes.

The board scheduled its next meeting for June 30 and closed the session.