Charter Review Committee

Mission

The mission of the Charter Review Committee is to examine the existing Town of Essex Charter and propose any revisions. For instance, residents and Selectboard members have brought up the possibility of including a recall provision and more about water and sewer rates. The Charter Review Committee is expected to review other municipal charters to consider other possible ideas for revisions.

The Selectboard would like to have any possible revisions brought to voters at Town Meeting in March 2023; proposed changes will need to be finalized by December 2022 in order to meet public hearing requirements. To meet the deadline and provide information at public hearings, the Charter Review Committee is expected to meet regularly through January 2023.

Committee members

Committee members were appointed on August 1, 2022 with a term to expire upon completion of the committee work.

Alexis Dubief
Lauren Layman, Chair
Bruce Post
Margaret Smith
Charles Tabone, Secretary/Clerk
Dawn Hill-Fleury, Ex Officio

Staff representative: Cheryl Brown, Deputy Clerk
cbrown@essex.org
ph. (802) 879-0413

Timeline

November 22 – Charter Review Committee work session
December 5 – proposed amendments will be presented to the Town Selectboard
December 19 – Selectboard meeting – public to be heard
January 3 – Selectboard meeting – public to be heard
January 7 – last day to file official copy of proposed charter amendments with the Town Clerk
January 17 – Selectboard to hold first public hearing on charter amendments
January 30 – Selectboard to hold the second public hearing on charter amendments
February 15 – last day to make changes to charter proposal (by Selectboard)
March 6 - Town Meeting Day - Discussion
March 7 – Town Meeting Day – Australian Ballot Vote