Panel debates definitions for 'town officers' and a 'bare majority' rule to broaden appointments

The Charter Revision Commission revisited Article 2 on town officers and examined a proposal to use a broad definition of 'town officers' that covers elected and appointed officials alike, while asking legal counsel to draft precise definitions for terms such as 'officer', 'committee' and 'commission'.

Members said the current draft could inadvertently exclude appointed officials in places where the charter refers only to 'elected' posts; the panel favored language that treats town officers comprehensively and asked staff and counsel (Nick was referenced) to provide a statutory review and recommended definitions to add to the charter’s definitions section.

The group also discussed a 'bare majority' approach to minority representation on appointed boards, a mechanism allowed under Connecticut law that caps the number of members from any one political party on appointed bodies. Commissioners noted Westport, Weston and parts of Fairfield County use similar practices; some members said the practice, combined with term limits for appointed positions, can broaden participation by unaffiliated voters.

Commissioners agreed the bare majority proposal and any term limits should be brought to the full commission for further study and asked staff to compare which towns pair bare-majority rules with appointed-term limits. The panel ended the session with several items bracketed for fuller commission consideration and a plan to circulate updated draft language.