<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3XgskD_1H1MkY4p00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3XgskD_1H1MkY4p00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Government Review Committee Vice Chair Russell Miner and Chair Betsey Hughes presented a final report of a potential town charter before the Select Board on Monday at town hall. (Tara Vocino photo)</figcaption></figure>BURLINGTON - The Select Board got a first look at the Government Review Committee’s final report of a potential town charter during Monday’s meeting at town hall.Assistant Town Administrator Patrick Lawlor said it is one of the final comprehensive updates to the board about what has occurred since the last time they met a few months ago. No action was taken on Monday, but it was the first reading. More votes will be taken this winter.Select Board members had the opportunity to ask questions to Government Review Committee members who were present. The committee has been working since 2025 on this task.First, Select Board Vice Chair Sarah Cawley thanked the committee members for their hard work. Cawley asked why the committee would like to change the Town Moderator's term from one to three years and how much the election would cost.Government Review Committee Betsey Chair Hughes estimated at least $5,000 for the candidate to run. Hughes said some people feel very, very strongly that there is so much power in the Town Moderator role and that if a Town Moderator does something wrong, they have to wait three years to get them out.Cawley said she understands the rationale and wants to make sure that it would improve the functioning of Town Meeting as a whole without diminishing voters’ voices.As a side note, Cawley warned new Town Meeting members that the May meeting is very dense and content heavy. Hughes said they set a base level and out of that will come other issues that the committee wants to fine tune and fix.There is an option of removal from a multi-member board if absent from duties for six months (Article 9-12). Cawley feels that a six month leave of absence is too long for appointed and elected committee members. “Most boards have the option to attend meetings remotely,” Cawley said. “I understand things come up, and life gets in the way.”Betsey said committee members shared the same sentiment.“You need to start somewhere, Sarah,” Hughes said. “Right now, there’s nothing.”Following, Select Board member Joseph Morandi said he doesn’t agree with term limits and does agree that the Town Moderator should be a 3-year term.“I think having a term limit takes away from the voters’ rights,” Morandi said. Next, Select Board member Nicholas Priest said the level of work that the committee has done far surpasses his expectations and is nothing short of outstanding. “There are a lot of things we could start tomorrow based on the recommendations,” Priest said. “A lot of these things can improve best practices (without interfering with democracy or law) and how we are doing things.”Priest asked how well attended the precinct town meetings were. Betsey replied approximately 33 members had a dense, high-quality discussion, and there will be one forthcoming.Priest asked if the six-month attendance requirement could be made into a policy. Hughes replied it is more of a legal question. The document hasn’t been modified since 1974, and that is why it is being updated now. Hughes said it has been tweaked since then but not much.Following, Select Board member Michael Espejo said he can’t speak for the entire board, but he shared his thoughts. He said the committee did a very commendable job, and a lot of the things are common sense.“It cleans up the way the town runs,” Espejo said. “I’m ready to accept the report tonight.”Next, Select Board Chair James Tigges said the committee put in an intense amount of work.“I can’t believe we’ve been functioning without something like this,” Tigges said. “The committee has put (together) an easy-to-read document.”Tigges supports changing the term for the town moderator and supports the recall provision. All but one comparable town has a recall, which is for if an official commits an egregious act.“It’s not going to be a done deal,” Tigges said. “It’s a living document and you have laid the foundation for this thing to grow.”Town Administrator John Danizio thanked committee members for the great work and gave out a shout to members who were in the room and who weren’t.“There couldn’t have possibly been more opportunities for input,” Danizio said. Cawley asked if it is a simple majority to pass at Town Meeting. Hughes replied yes.Also, during the meeting, Select Board members approved Dean Voyer to be appointed as a Special Heavy Equipment Operator/Laborer.According to Department of Public Works Operations Manager Anthony DeSimone, Voyer owns a landscaping company and was an equipment operator with the Chelmsford DPW in their stormwater division. Voyer holds a CDL A Driver’s License and he is actively working toward obtaining the remaining required license.</div></body>

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BURLINGTON - The Select Board got a first look at the Government Review Committee’s final report of a potential town charter during Monday’s meeting at town hall. Assistant Town Administrator Patrick Lawlor said it is one of the final comprehensive updates to the board about what has occurred since the last time they met a few months ago. No action was taken on Monday, but it was the first reading. More votes will be taken this winter.

First look at potential Burlington town charter

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BURLINGTON - The Select Board got a first look at the Government Review Committee’s final report of a potential town charter during Monday’s meeting at tow

First look at potential Burlington town charter

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