Charter panel votes to keep clerk elected, finance board appointed

Other Committee · Meeting of March 31, 2026

New Canaan's Charter Revision Commission votes to keep the town clerk elected and the Board of Finance appointed. Chaired by Kathleen Corbett, the panel voted 10-1 to retain the elected town clerk and 8-3 to keep the Board of Finance an appointed body, also preserving the charter's existing minority-representation rule on an 8-3 vote. A nonbinding straw poll on term limits for appointed boards split 6-5, with member Todd Lampert saying he'd back a four-term cap "if we're going to put term limits," while a member identified as Jennifer argued limits "bring in fresh blood." The commission's outside counsel, an attorney identified as Nick, clarified that only changes the commission formally recommends can reach the ballot.

A subcommittee will study term limits and appointment transparency ahead of the panel's May 4 deadline for its draft report to the Town Council.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 795 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of March 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

NEW CANAAN — March 31, 2026 — The Charter Revision Commission voted Tuesday to keep the town clerk an elected office and to leave the Board of Finance an appointed body, turning back two of the bigger structural changes it had floated as it works toward a May 4 deadline to submit its draft report to the Town Council.

The commission, chaired by Kathleen Corbett, also voted 8-3 to retain the charter's existing minority-representation rule rather than tighten it to a bare-majority cap, and took a nonbinding straw poll that split 6-5 in favor of exploring term limits for appointed boards and commissions. No final decision on term limits was made.

The Full Story

Much of the three-and-a-half-hour meeting was consumed by a dispute over the commission's advisory authority. Secretary Angela Jameson's draft minutes from March 24 stated that if the commission does not recommend a change to a section of the charter, "there was no issue for the Town Council to put on the ballot." A commission member said she had separately called an attorney at the Secretary of the State's office, identified as Lewis Button, who gave "somewhat different advice." The commission's outside counsel, an attorney identified in the meeting only as Nick, pushed back, saying he and his law partner, Ira Bloom, along with consultant attorney Steve Mednick, agreed the commission's recommendations control what reaches the ballot.

"They can talk about whatever's in your draft report, but if there's no recommendation for a change, it's not going to the ballot," Nick said.

The commission then turned to a report, prepared by a member identified in discussion as Jennifer, analyzing years of service across every town board and commission using town clerk's office records. The data showed roughly 70 to 75 percent of current terms are under five years, with the audit board the only body currently subject to a formal term limit, three terms, adopted about a decade ago.

"I believe that it brings in fresh blood," Jennifer said of term limits, arguing they would also broaden opportunities for newer volunteers.

Commission member Todd Lampert said he saw little evidence of entrenchment but would support a limit of four terms if the commission adopted one. "I think this chart shows that very few people abuse the system and stay too long," Lampert said. Other members, including Case and a member identified as Steve, argued any limits should apply narrowly to land-use boards such as Planning and Zoning, the Zoning Board of Appeals and Inland Wetlands, where turnover matters most. A member identified as Russ proposed charter language requiring board and commission openings to be posted publicly by the town clerk and the first selectman's office at least 30 days before an appointment is made, an idea several members said should be pursued alongside, or instead of, term limits.

The commission then took up structural votes. On a motion to keep the Board of Finance an appointed body rather than moving to elections, members voted 8-3 in favor, with member Holm, Palo and Perreault dissenting. The panel then voted 8-3 to retain the charter's current minority-representation formula, which caps the number of members from one political party on a body rather than adopting a stricter "bare majority" standard. Finally, members voted 10-1, with only Jameson dissenting, to keep the town clerk an elected office, citing the position's role in overseeing elections and vital records.

Why It Matters

New Canaan's charter can only be amended through a public ballot vote, and only on questions the Charter Revision Commission formally recommends, according to the commission's outside counsel. Tuesday's votes mean two closely watched structural questions, an elected versus appointed Board of Finance and an elected versus appointed town clerk, will not appear before voters this cycle. Term limits for boards and commissions remain undecided; a subcommittee of three members will report back before the commission finalizes its draft report, due to the Town Council by May 4. The commission plans to work through the charter article by article at meetings scheduled through late April.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Retain the Board of Finance as an appointed body Tally: For: 8, Against: 3, Abstain: 0, Total: 11 - Vote: Retain existing minority-representation rule (status quo, no bare-majority cap) Tally: For: 8, Against: 3, Abstain: 0, Total: 11 - Vote: Retain the town clerk as an elected position Tally: For: 10, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 11 - Action: Straw poll on pursuing term limits for appointed boards and commissions (nonbinding) — Tally: For: 6, Against: 5, Total: 11; referred to a three-member subcommittee for further study, report due before the commission's next meetings

Source

Town Of New Canaan: Charter Revision Commission meeting, March 31, 2026