Procedure

To form a Charter Revision Commission, it must be initiated by two-thirds vote of the Selectmen or by petition filed with the Town Clerk signed by not less than 10% of the electors.

Within 30 days of the vote of the Selectmen (or certification of a petition), the Selectmen shall appoint a Commission consisting of NOT FEWER THAN 5, NOR MORE THAN 15 electors, not more than 1/3 of whom may hold any other public office in the municipality and not more than a bare majority of whom shall be members of any one political party.

The Selectmen shall direct the Commission to consider recommendations included in a petition if so filed, and MAY MAKE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION. The Commission may also consider other items for inclusion in the proposed Charter revisions. The Commission shall in its reports, comment on each recommendation which it has been directed to consider.

The Selectmen shall specify, by resolution, when the Commission shall submit its draft report which is not later than 16 months from the date of its appointment. The Commission terminates upon the acceptance or rejection of its final report by the Selectmen.

Public Hearing Process:

The Commission shall hold at least 2 public hearings on the revisions; one prior to the beginning of any substantive work and one after the draft report to the Selectmen has been completed. After this hearing, the Commission may amend such report and may hold other public hearings as it deems necessary.

The Selectmen shall hold at least 1 public hearing on the draft report and shall hold its last hearing within 45 days of the submission of the draft report to the Town Clerk.

Final Report :

If the Selectmen make no recommendations for changes to the draft within 15 days, the report of the Commission shall be final and the Selectmen shall act on it . If the Selectmen make recommendations for changes, the Commission shall confer with the Selectmen concerning the changes and

MAY amend any of them, or may reject them. In either case, the Commission shall make its Final Report to the Selectmen within 30 days after receiving such recommendations for changes.

Within 15 days after receiving the Final Report, the Selectmen by a majority vote, shall either approve the revisions. (If the Selectmen reject the revisions, a petition for a referendum signed by not less than 10% of the electors may be presented to the Selectmen.)

Sending Revisions to the Voters :

The Selectmen by majority vote, determine whether the revisions shall be submitted to the electors for approval/rejection at regular election or at a special election, which shall be held not later than 15 months after the approval by the Selectmen (or petition).

The proposed revisions shall be prepared for vote and may be submitted in the form of 1 or several questions. If approved by a majority which number equals at least 15% of the electors of the Town such proposed revisions shall become effective 30 days after such approval unless an effective date are specified.

*See Connecticut General Statutes 7-188 for detail.

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