Coventry Charter Revision Commission flags unclear referendum language, readies public hearing

The Coventry Charter Revision Commission reviewed a near-final draft of the town charter on April 16, 2026, and asked its attorney to clarify an ambiguous provision that could affect whether the Town Council may send items to a referendum. The commission approved its April 1 minutes unanimously and finalized logistics for a public hearing on April 23 at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Auditorium at CHS.

Alex Taylor, the commission's special projects coordinator, said he had incorporated changes suggested in an email from Vice Chair Justin Murphy, including replacing a specific statutory citation (CGS 7-344) with the broader phrase "in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes." Taylor also read aloud the draft text of Section 7-3(e): "Any other item or items, with the exception of the annual budget, on the call of any Town Meeting may, if the Town Council may deem it advisable, be submitted to a vote on the voting machines in the same manner as aforesaid and, if approved by a majority of those voting thereon, shall be deemed to be a vote of the town meeting." Taylor said he could not determine the clause's intent and had forwarded the draft (Version 10) to the town attorney for review.

Commissioner Jen Beausoleil said she reads the clause differently and noted the charter also contains Section 7-4, which establishes petition and overrule procedures; she told colleagues that the provision had been read multiple ways by commissioners. "It has been read four different times and there are four different interpretations," Beausoleil said, arguing the language should be clarified or removed if redundant. John Elsesser urged the commission to tell the public at the hearing that the attorney is reviewing the section so attendees understand it may be revised after public comment.

Chair Mike Petro described the goals for the revision as improving clarity and removing ambiguity from the charter. Petro said the presentation for the public hearing would focus on highlights rather than reading the full 18-page draft, and that Murphy would give the slide presentation on April 23. Commissioners asked that slides show concrete numeric examples where the draft references percentage thresholds (for example, the 3% petition threshold and the 1.5% budget threshold) with an "as of" date; the minutes note Taylor was asked to obtain the exact current values so they can be displayed.

Taylor reminded the commission of next steps and deadlines: the commission's materials must be submitted to the Town Council by May 15 (Taylor said he would confirm whether the commission also must present to the council on May 4 or May 18), and the Town Council must hold its own public hearing by June 29. No substantive changes were made to the draft at the April 16 meeting pending attorney feedback; commissioners asked that any sections under further review be clearly signaled at the public hearing.

Actions taken at the meeting were procedural and unanimous: Elsesser moved to accept the April 1, 2026 minutes (seconded by Beausoleil) and the commission approved the motion unanimously; later Elsesser moved to adjourn at 8:14 p.m. (seconded by Liptrap) and the motion passed unanimously. The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 6:30 p.m., and the public hearing on the revised charter is set for April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Veterans Auditorium at CHS.