Wrentham is in the midst of a required 10-year review of its Home Rule Charter. As part of this effort, the Charter Review Committee (CRC) will conduct a public forum on Wednesday, October 4th, at 7:30 p.m. The forum will be conducted in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at Town Hall and will also be available on Zoom. All residents are invited to attend in person or to participate via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86484651819?pwd=cnJoK01PWDQyTTBYQkhnNm9RWDg1Zz09
Meeting ID: 864 8465 1819
Passcode: 107562
The CRC was appointed by the Select Board in April. It met from May to August to conduct its review and develop proposed amendments to the Charter. In September it met first with elected boards and officials and then with municipal department heads to discuss proposals.
The proposals include changing several elected boards to appointed boards as well as changing the Town Clerk from an elected position to an appointed position. Other proposals include changes to civil service requirements for police and fire personnel, and a re-alignment of the assessor’s office to a division under the finance department.
The purpose of the forum is to provide the public with the rationale for the proposals and to gain public feedback. The draft Proposed Amended Charter will be available for public review by October 12, and the proposals will ultimately be voted on at the Fall Town Meeting on November 13.
The Wrentham Town Charter was enacted and took effect on January 1, 2015. Enacting a Charter, approved by the state legislature, codified the Town’s structure, authorities, and processes to help ensure operational consistency. It also affirmed the Town’s right to conduct local government in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Home Rule Amendments, in a way that is responsive to and consistent with local concerns and needs. The Charter is the keystone for modernizing and implementing consistent policies and procedures across the Town’s boards and departments to significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of municipal operations.
