By Keith Regan, Contributing Writer
Westborough – A year into its work – and with no plans to recommend major changes to how town government operates – the Charter Review Committee asked selectmen Jan. 28 to expand the scope of their work to include reviewing the town’s charter for legal clarity.
The committee gave the board an interim report on its work to date, saying its effort to reach out to community members and leaders have revealed a desire to keep the town’s government structure largely intact.
“What we’ve found is that people are largely OK with how things are and that if we change anything, there will be someone who does not like it,” said Bob Deyshar, chair of the committee.
Selectmen agreed to an expanded mission for the committee, to include the task of working directly “with legal counsel to clean up some legal issues and resolve language that could create conflict.”
Deyshar said in some instances, the charter’s language conflicts with state law or doesn’t reflect changes made since its adoption.
“It makes sense to us, now that we are taking this close look at the document, to make some of those changes that are needed,” he said.
As for more substantive changes, the committee sees no reason to change the appointment process for any currently elected positions, Deyshar said.
Major substantive topics still open for discussion include how the police and fire chiefs are appointed – the task currently falls to the Board of Selectmen – and whether to keep in place selectmen review of appointments made by the town manager.
The committee began meeting last February and typically meets twice monthly, though it plans to take the coming month off to focus on Town Meeting and other timely issues. The group hopes to have its work wrapped up with suggestions for possible Town Meeting warrant articles by this fall.
