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Commission reconsiders Town Clerk structure; hears calls for four-year elected term or civil-service conversion
Summary
Commissioners debated whether the Town Clerk should remain elected or become appointed/civil service; some commissioners favored returning the position to elected status with four-year terms while others expressed concern about qualifications.
The Charter Revision Commission revisited the Town Clerk proposal July 27, with commissioners and public commenters urging caution about changing the office from elected to appointed. Commissioner Isabel C. Almeida said that if the Town Clerk remains an elected position, "it should be a four-year term to allow for some consistency in the office." The discussion reflected competing priorities: voter control versus administrative continuity and qualifications.
Public commenters and assistant Town Clerk Jennifer Dorin raised concerns about how the Town Clerk section was written in the draft. Resident and Council member Ben Chianese advocated for appointment or civil service status for the office and suggested removing Section 6-18 entirely. Commissioner Michael Safranek said he worried about an unqualified person being elected but acknowledged the role of voters in deciding the issue. The commission reached consensus to reconsider the original language and to include a four-year term option if the position remains elected; final wording will return to the commission for approval.
