#Middlebury #TownCharter
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
The Middlebury Charter Revision Commission will hold a public hearing Monday, March 16, at 6 p.m. in Room 26 at Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury so residents can comment on possible revisions to the town charter. By state statute, the Commission has to offer two public hearings. The first is meant to solicit suggestions from residents. The second is to present the revised charter to residents. Residents will vote on the revised charter at the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election.
Since the coronavirus, COVID-19, started spreading in Connecticut after this public hearing was scheduled, the newspaper contacted Charter Revision Commission Chairman Michael McVerry by email to ask if the public hearing would be rescheduled as a result of the virus. He responded, “As of now (March 13, 2020) it will proceed – the governor’s cut off number is 250 – I would be surprised if we have 20.”
The town charter establishes the town’s form of government and addresses topics such as elected and appointed officials, meetings, officials’ duties, boards and commissions, administrative departments, the budget procedure, borrowing and more. Readers can pick up a hard copy of the current charter at the town clerk’s office in Town Hall. It also can be read online at the town website, middlebury-ct.org.
The current town charter was revised in November 2012. Chapter X, Section 1007, of the charter states it is to be reviewed “not less than once every five years,” so it was due for review in 2017. It’s possible the focus on the town’s capital plan at that time delayed the charter review.
Those appointed by the Board of Selectmen to review the charter are four Republicans, Paul Bialobrzeski, Natrajan Kuppuraj, John A. Jenusaitis and Thomas C. King, and three Democrats, Diana J. Anton, Curtis Bosco and Michael J. McVerry. McVerry, an attorney, chairs the committee.
Following the public hearing March 16, the Commission will meet to discuss the outcome of the public hearing. The meeting, also in Room 26, will be open to the public.
The commission meets Monday nights at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, and its meetings are open to the public. Agendas for upcoming meetings will be posted on the town website (listed above – See Boards and Commissions) and on the Town Hall bulletin boards.
