This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/18/2010 12:00 AMIf you're interested in serving on the town's first official Charter Study Committee, the town's selectmen-and the town political party committee chairmen-want to hear from you.
A new Charter Study Committee will be asked to study both the advantages and disadvantages of creating a town charter for the town of Westbrook and to craft a recommendation for the town's selectmen to review.
A town's charter is the document that spells out how the town is run-from the type of government (town council or first selectman, for instance) to number of members on individual committees (and whether those members are appointed or elected). The town currently operates under a generic state charter.
Applicants not affiliated with a political party should submit letters of interest this week to the Office of the First Selectman at the Mulvey Municipal Center.
Both political party town committee chairmen have already received letters from the Board of Selectmen asking for the list of party affiliated applicants interested in serving on the town charter study panel.
Since the Board of Selectmen plans to create a Charter Study Committee this month, applicants should submit their letters of interest this week.
Unlike previous charter study panels that were ad hoc committees, this official charter study committee will operate under the timelines and rules associated with an official charter committee under state law. Under these rules, the panel will have specific responsibilities, including holding public hearings, seeking input from town boards and commissions, and returning to the Board of Selectmen with a recommendation within a year.