Charter Revision Commission

FINAL RESULTS of November 8, 2022 Referendum

QUESTION: "Shall the Town of Manchester amend the Town Charter to make certain technical and administrative changes?”  
EXPLANATION: Approval of this question would make the following amendments to the Town Charter:  Section 5 would be amended to provide specific milestone dates which need to be adhered to in the preparation and adoption of the Town’s annual budget.  Section 18-1 would be amended to increase the Town Attorney’s authority to unilaterally settle claims up to $10,000; settle claims between $10,000 and $20,000 with the General Manager’s approval and settle claims in excess of  $20,000 with the Board of Directors approval.  Section 2-4 would be amended to align consistency with state statutes allowing the Board of Directors to establish additional ethical standards of conduct by ordinance.  The title of General Manager would be deleted and replaced with the title of Town Manager throughout the Town Charter.  Section 2-12 would be amended to establish the salary of the Town Clerk not later than July 1 of the  year in which the Town Clerk is elected.  Section 2-1 would be amended to reflect that the terms of office of the Town Clerk and the Registrar of Voters are 4 year terms.  Section 2-14 would amended to provide for an increase in the number of Justices of the Peace from 15 to 45.  The Town Charter would be revised to incorporate where appropriate gender neutral pronouns in official titles.  Section 2-2 would be amended to encourage appointments to boards and commissions that reflect racial equity and gender identity.  Section 3-5 would be amended to provide that a vacancy in the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors (the Mayor) would be filled by the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (the Deputy Mayor). Sections 2-2, 14 and 15 of the Town Charter would be amended to provide that the Advisory Recreational Parks Commission and Advisory Board of Health would be continued in the form of an ordinance.  Section 3-1 would be amended to provide that the Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish, delete or alter departments and divisions comprising the internal organizational structure of the Town.  Section 2-2 would  be amended to change the Board of Tax Review to the Board of Assessment Appeals.
OUTCOME: APPROVED


QUESTION: “Shall the Town of Manchester amend section 3-4 of the Town Charter to provide for the direct election of the mayor?”  
EXPLANATION: Approval of this question would provide that at each biennial election of the Town’s Board of Directors, the position of Mayor shall be separately determined among candidates running for that office, separate from the candidates running for the eight members of the Board of Directors.  The candidate for Mayor receiving the highest vote total among Mayoral candidates shall be Mayor as well as the ninth member of the Board of Directors.  The unsuccessful Mayoral candidates shall have their vote totals for Mayor included in the compilation and determination of the other eight members of the Board of Directors.
OUTCOME: APPROVED

QUESTION: “Shall the Town of Manchester amend the Town Charter to eliminate the residency requirement for the Superintendent of Schools, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Director of Public Works and the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department?”  
EXPLANATION: Approval of this question would result in a residency requirement no longer being necessary to hold the positions of Superintendent of Schools, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Director of Public Works and the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department in the Town of Manchester.
OUTCOME: REJECTED

QUESTION: “Shall the membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission be increased to 7 members upon the effective date of any approval by the voters of this proposed Charter change and to 9 members on November 17, 2025?”  
EXPLANATION: Approval of this question would increase the membership on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 5 members to 7 members immediately and from 7 members to 9 members on November 17, 2025.
OUTCOME: APPROVED

Charter Revision Amendments(PDF, 468KB) (full edited version of Charter following approval of revisions as listed above)



BACKGROUND

On April 6, 2021, the Manchester Board of Directors adopted a resolution establishing a Charter Revision Commission and appointing its membership. The Town Charter defines the form of government for the town and sets out the roles and responsibilities of most elected and appointed town officials. The Charter also codifies the basic framework for how government is conducted, such as the processes for adopting ordinances, the town budget and the identification and operation of the various departments of the town government. Click here to view the Town Charter.

Periodically, communities update their charters to reflect changes in the way the business of government is conducted, to reassign roles and responsibilities or to clarify certain provisions. This process is called Charter Revision and may result in minor technical and administrative changes as well as substantive changes to the structure of the local government. Manchester has a history of undergoing revisions of its Charter to conform its provisions to changes in the manner in which municipalities conduct their governmental operations.

Subsequent to appointing the Charter Revision Commission, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution directing certain recommendations(PDF, 933KB) to the Commission. The Commission was not limited to acting just on these recommendations.

Resolution Establishing Commission and Charge to Commission(PDF, 228KB)

Charter Revision Commission Presentation(PDF, 533KB)

Charter Revision Draft Report on File with Town Clerk (6.3.22)(PDF, 4MB)

Charter Revision Commission Final Actions(PDF, 297KB)

Charter Revision Commission Final Report(PDF, 734KB)

Charter Revision Commission Members:

Dr. Diane Clare-Kearney
Ms. Jacqueline Crespan
Dr. Maria Cruz
Ms. Cheri Eckbreth
Ms. Margaret Hackett
Mr. Josh Howroyd
Mr. Jerald Lentini
Md Masudur Rahman
Mr. Louis Spadaccini
Mr. Mark Tweedie
Ms. Jennifer Fiereck

Public Input:

Residents of the Town of Manchester may make suggestions regarding the Town Charter at any future public hearings held by the Commission. Residents can also submit their comments in writing to:

Charter Revision Commission
Attn: Brian Wolverton
bwolverton@manchesterct.gov

When submitting comments electronically, please include the phrase "Charter Revision 2021" in the subject line.