Barrington Charter Going Under Scope

The review of Barrington’s charter begins tonight, Sept. 16, at an organizational meeting in Town Hall.

The dozen members of the Charter Review Commission meet for the first time at 7 pm in the Council Chamber. 

The agenda calls for an introduction of members to each other, a review of the charge given to it by the Town Council, election of a chair and reaching out to Barrington’s other boards and commissions and “other interested parties” with a letter of some sort of survey. 

Members of the Charter Review Commission were appointed at the Sept. 3 Town Council meeting.  They are: Patricia F. Adams, Anthony V. Arico, Jeffrey S. Brenner, John D. Cregan, Meredith DeSisto, Paul C. Dulchinos, Mary Alyce Gasbarro, Joel Hellmann, James A. Jackson, Allan C. Klepper, Timothy R. Sweetser, and Joan D. Warren.

DeSisto is the Town Clerk and was appointed as a nonvoting member.

All of the members have been active as volunteers on other boards or commissions or involved in local political and civic affairs. Each applied to serve on the commission. 

The charge of the commission will be to review the existing town charter and come up with recommendations – if any – to amend the document that governs Barrington. Those recommendations will go to the Town Council, which ultimately will make decisions on which proposals should be put before voters in the form of a referendum.

A public hearing also will be held to review the recommendations.

The commission is being asked to prepare a monthly report on their progress for the Town Council. The commission will meet monthly on a day of time to be determined tonight. 

August 1 next year is the deadline to make recommendations to the Town Council. That date gives Barrington just enough time to get a referendums on the November election ballot if needed.

Under terms of the town charter, a commission must be formed and meet every 10 years to review the document.

Here is the complete agenda for the first meeting of the commission:

CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 AT 7:00 P.M.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, BARRINGTON TOWN HALL

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Introduction of Committee Members

3. Charge of the Commission

4. Discuss and Act on Electing a Chairperson

5. Discuss and Act on Communication with the Public

6. Discuss and Act on Letter/Survey to Boards and Commissions and Other 

Interested Parties 

7. Discuss and Act on Future Day/Date/Time of Meetings

8. Adjourn