After reviewing all but one high-profile proposed revision to Newtown’s constitutional document during a special meeting September 22, the Charter Revision Commission has set a 7 pm public hearing for September 30 to receive any final input from the public before members hope to send an initial draft back for review by the Legislative Council.

Commission Chairman Jeff Capeci told The Newtown Bee following the latest meeting, that the entire proposed document went through a review with commission members and Town Attorney David Grogins, with only a couple of minor adjustments made.

Mr Capeci said that one issue tied to minority representation among alternates to several local boards and commissions is still being researched by Mr Grogins. Another more significant issue that was on the agenda September 22 — filling open positions on appointed boards and commissions was not settled because the two commissioners mainly responsible for proposed new language on the subject were absent Tuesday evening.

As a result, Mr Capeci scheduled a special meeting for 9 am, Friday, September 25, so those members, Vice-Chairman Robert Hall and Commissioner Deborra Zukowski could finish and recommend proposed text for the revision suggestion. If a quorum of commissioners is not in attendance to vote on that proposal, Mr Capeci was assured by the town attorney that the full commission could take up that and any other more minor adjustments to the draft, and rule on those motions at a special meeting planned following the September 30 hearing.

Mr Capeci said with a mid-October statutory deadline looming to complete and endorse a revision draft, he is hoping to complete the draft recommendation and to pass all proposed revisions back to the Legislative Council through the town clerk next week.

Despite hopes to get the revision before voters this November, the commission, which also includes Kevin Burns, Eric Paradis, Dan Wiedemann, Deborra Zukowski, Tom Long, George Guidera, and James Ritchie, opted to continue working on the document and its language after the deadline for this fall’s ballot measure passed.

With a charge to make the charter more readable and “user-friendly” for residents and local officials, the current revision under consideration is likely the most sweeping review to be completed since Mr Hall first drafted the document in 1974.