The Charter Revision Commission moved closer Monday to completing its recommended update of New Canaan’s charter, spending more than two hours reviewing detailed revisions involving financial oversight, town property approvals and several questions that could eventually appear before voters.
During the May 4 meeting, commissioners worked through the draft section by section, making technical edits while also revisiting broader questions about how authority is divided among town officials, the Board of Education and the Town Council.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the powers of the town treasurer, particularly language governing bank accounts and the payment of town funds. Commissioners debated whether the charter should specify that the treasurer is a signer on all town bank and investment accounts, especially in cases involving Board of Education accounts that operate separately from the town’s general fund.
Superintendent Bryan Luizzi said several school-related accounts handle funds connected to cafeteria operations, grants, facility rentals and other specialized programs.
“It’s a couple of million dollars that are running through this one fund annually,” Luizzi said. “It’s run like a business.”
Town Treasurer Andrew Brooks explained that the treasurer’s role is intended to ensure payments are properly authorized before money is distributed.
“The only times I’ve had to put up … it’s really more hitting a pause button if I detect that something is not being correctly paid,” Brooks said. “I first need to have the proper authority before the payment can be issued.”
Commissioners discussed whether the charter language should include the phrase “as appropriate” to clarify that some Board of Education accounts are managed separately. Town Attorney Nick Bamonte ultimately supported the compromise wording.
“I see no reason why that cannot be just made abundantly clear in the charter language itself,” Bamonte said.
The final proposed language states that the town treasurer is a signer on bank and investment accounts “as appropriate” and “shall pay out all disbursements made on the order of proper authority.”
The commission also reviewed several proposed ballot questions that could be included in a future referendum connected to the charter revision process. Those proposals include term limits for appointed board and commission members, requiring Town Council approval for changes involving town-owned property and requiring Town Council confirmation of Planning & Zoning Commission appointments.
Commissioners also discussed whether adding alternate members to the Ethics Board should require a separate referendum question. Bamonte advised that the proposal likely should appear independently on the ballot because it changes the structure of the board.
The meeting also included discussion about language concerning town-owned park property and how “change of use” provisions should be handled within the charter. Commissioners removed one proposed phrase involving “transfer of use” after concluding the existing language was sufficient.
Chair Kathleen Corbet said the revised charter draft has grown substantially compared with the document approved a decade ago.
“When we did this 10 years ago, there were 59 pages,” Corbet said. “Today we have 74.”
Corbet said the expanded draft includes historical background, summaries of public outreach efforts and explanations intended to help residents better understand the town’s governing structure.
Commissioners also discussed future work outside the formal charter revision process, including recommendations involving personnel policies, training requirements for boards and commissions and possible ordinance updates for the Town Council to consider later this year.
As the meeting concluded, Corbet urged commissioners and town officials to keep the review process moving so the charter revisions can stay on schedule ahead of a potential referendum.
“We truly hope that the town council comes back to us quickly,” Corbet said. “We’re here for you.”
The Charter Revision Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for May 26.
