BRISTOL – A new charter revision panel that could spearhead an effort to create a city manager form of government for the city is set to begin work Thursday.
The panel is slated to pick officers, set a meeting schedule and receive recommendations from the City Council at its inaugural session.
The meeting, which does not include a period for public comment, is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the council chambers on the first floor of City Hall.
The new seven-member charter revision commission will consider a wide range of potential changes to the city government’s blueprint in the months ahead.
The members of the new panel, who were endorsed last month by councilors, are Gail Hartmann, Dick Prindle, Tim Furey, Al Marko, Maria Pirro, Hal Kilby and Harley Graham.
Charter panels often wind up recommending relatively mundane changes in the city charter, but they have the capacity to seek a sweeping overhaul.
With many politicians expressing support for switching from a strong mayor system to a city manager form of government, the issue offers the potential for upsetting the city’s blueprint that’s been in place for nearly 100 years.
Proposed changes supported by the charter commission go first to the council. If councilors back them, they head for the ballot for voters to have the final say. The charter cannot be revised except by citywide vote.
It is likely that in subsequent, regularly scheduled charter commission meetings, there will be time set aside for public comment. The panel usually holds at least a couple of public hearings as well.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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