The Legislative Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed charter changes on Wednesday, October 21. The hearing will begin at 7 pm, in the Council Chamber at Newtown Municipal Center.

At its meeting on Wednesday, October 7, the council heard a synopsis of changes to the charter — the document by which the town governs itself — from Charter Revision Commission Chair Jeff Capeci.

As Legislative Council Chair Mary Ann Jacob said, the Charter Revision Commission has been working since June 2014.

Mr Capeci said the Charter Revision Commission panel tried to make the charter more readable, user friendly, and accurate.

“As you get into the detail, hopefully you will agree,” said Mr Capeci. “Some parts certainly became more complex, but hopefully they are easier to read. We did put some detail in areas we felt it needed, but overall I think it is better structured, easier to read, [and] easier to find things you are looking for.”

Part of the panel’s charge, according to Mr Capeci’s presentation, included a list of 73 specific items to “look for.”

Since the start of the process, Mr Capeci said the panel conducted more than 40 public meetings, two public hearings, and spent time working in groups to research different parts of the charter. After the bulk of the work was complete, Mr Capeci said the commission also sought feedback from local boards.

“Then obviously the Charter Revision Commission voted unanimously to pass the draft on that you will consider,” said Mr Capeci.

The charter panel came up with criteria to decide which boards and commissions belong in the charter, looked at the way vacant seats are filled on elected boards, revamped the ways the town can acquire and dispose of property, “and we tried to enshrine the best financial practices that are being done today in the charter,” according to Mr Capeci.

Other changes noted in the presentation include the reorganization of the document; eliminating the town meeting, which offered a way to appropriate funds above what the Legislative Council is authorized to approve and what a referendum is needed to approve; streamlining wording; and altering the language of the budget advisory questions.

According to Ms Jacob, the Legislative Council is also reserving the opportunity to hold a special council meeting on October 28 to complete deliberation and action on the charter revision, if the council does not, or cannot come to a consensus, or needs more time to review the details of the changes after the October 21 hearing and meeting. Full text and proposed changes to the charter are available online at newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_BComm/LC.