The town charter is drafted based on input from community residents, and the adoption of the charter is left to the registered voters within the proposed municipal boundaries.
Most new towns model their charters after other existing town charters. Our organization researched several recommended charters to identify key elements and relevant topics and compiled these for consideration. Local citizens volunteered and assembled into a committee to help draft the charter. They have held multiple meetings over a few months.
The charter is drafted through an iterative approach. The volunteer charter committee assembled a draft to submit to several seasoned experts for their feedback and input, including a municipal attorney, retired town managers, and BJM Consulting (the feasibility study firm). The committee discusses the feedback and comments and incorporates any proposed changes.
When the charter is in a final draft form, it is ready for the citizen-led charter review workgroup. The committee again incorporates the additional feedback and comments and prepares it for full community review. An open request for comments from citizens within the proposed boundaries would then feed back to the committee, bringing more changes as needed.
Because the charter is a referendum-based document, it requires adoption through referendum and amendment through referendum. The voters adopt the charter as part of the local vote. Once adopted, registered voters are the only ones able to amend the charter, through referendums.
See also:
Who serves on the charter committee?
