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A Net Addition

As co-chairs of the governance study in 2022, we want to offer our perspectives on the upcoming referendum.

As a registered Republican and as an unaffiliated voter who chairs a minor party in Chester and as participants on multiple boards and commissions in town over the years, we worked in a non-partisan way to tackle concerns that we felt needed to be addressed.

For the second time in 12 years, the chief executive/administrative officer of the town, its first selectmen, left abruptly for an out-of-town job, leaving Chester with no dedicated person to run the day-to-day functions of town government. Having sat through both difficult transitions with part-time second selectmen unexpectedly thrown into that position, we were concerned enough to try and examine what might be done to avoid this in the future.

The governance group looked at a multitude of options. We provided a set of recommendations to a board that was not necessarily inclined to look at a charter, but some of the options could only be addressed if we had the flexibility to work under our own rules and “constitution” a charter offered.

That said, we feel the changes proposed in the charter are a net addition, helping to assure continuity of town government, provide professional management as a solution to the increased complexity of town government, and also maintain the essence of participatory democracy that the New England town meeting form of government provides. The enlarged Board of Selectmen provides an opportunity for a healthier exchange of ideas among the five members. The appointment of the several elected boards and commissions lets the board pick qualified individuals rather than having most of our seats determined in uncontested elections.

We encourage a “yes” vote on the charter.

Jon Joslow

Michael Sanders

Chester