Councilors discussed whether to convene a Charter Review Commission to examine the town charter, and while several members expressed support for opening the charter review process the council did not complete appointments Sept. 17. Instead, members agreed to return to the subject at the next meeting to finalize the commission’s membership, scope and timetable.

A motion to establish a Charter Review Commission was made and seconded during the Sept. 17 meeting, and councilors discussed legal requirements and logistics. Town counsel and staff explained that once the initiating resolution is adopted councilors have 30 days to appoint the commission and that the commission must deliver a draft report within a council-determined period that may be no longer than 16 months. The council may set a shorter deadline depending on the target ballot date for any charter changes.

Councilors debated whether to aim for a November 2026 ballot or to allow a longer timeline that could target 2027, and several members urged careful scoping so the commission can address both large policy questions and smaller technical inconsistencies in the charter. Members agreed to have the council’s finance and government committee (and other councilors) collect candidate names and proposals and to bring a recommended slate and a proposed timeline back to the full council at the next meeting so appointments can be made within the statutory 30-day window after a final initiating vote.

No final appointments were made Sept. 17; the council asked members to forward candidate suggestions and potential commission scopes to designated councilors ahead of the October meeting and indicated the council will vote on the initiating resolution and/or appointments in upcoming sessions.