Charter Revision Commission

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

  • Edward Ohannessian, Chair
    Affiliation: R
  • Anthony McGovern, Vice Chairman
    Affiliation: U
  • Francis Brady, Member
    Affiliation: D
  • Rebecca Brewer, Member
    Affiliation: U
  • Anthony Cappelli, Member
    Affiliation: U
  • Lynn Guelzow, Member
    Affiliation: D
  • Terri-Ann Hahn, Member
    Affiliation: D
  • Mark W. Lockwood, Member
    Affiliation: R
  • Benjamin Perron, Member
    Affiliation: R

Overview

Historically, Granby reviews the Town Charter every 10 years. The last Charter Revision was in 2012.

A nine-member Charter Revision Commission has been established composed of three members each from registered Republican, Democrat, and Unaffiliated residents, and is instructed to consider such revisions to the Granby Town Charter as they deem appropriate and to submit a report of their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen in sufficient time for the proposed charter revision question(s) to be placed on the November 7, 2023, election ballot.

The charge of the commission is to consider any matter deemed appropriate to clarify or improve the Charter or to reflect changes in law or procedures that may have occurred since the last Charter revision.

Update on Charter Revision Commission Report

The Granby Charter Revision Commission started its review of the Town Charter in 2022 at the direction of the Board of Selectmen, concluded their work and filed a draft report with the Town Clerk's office on May 28, 2023. The recommendations were presented to the Board of Selectmen in June and a public hearing on the draft report was held on July 10, 2023.

The Board of Selectmen acted on the draft report at the July 17, 2023, meeting and returned its recommendations to the Charter Revision Commission. Specifically, the Board of Selectmen requested a review of section 3-1(b) to determine if additional consideration should be given to limit this section to municipal offices; section 3-11(a) to align the Conflict of Interest section of the charter with the Connecticut General Statutes, the State Code of Ethics and to define the term financial interest. Consideration was also given to removing the first sentence of section 11-3(c) based on feedback from the Town Attorney. The Charter Revision Commission accepted the recommendations of the Board of Selectmen and completed work on the draft report. The report was filed with the Town Clerk's office on August 1, 2023 and on August 7, 2023, the Board of Selectmen unanimously accepted the report and approved placement of the following question on the November 7, 2023 ballot:

"Shall the Granby Town Charter be amended as recommended in the Final Draft Report of the Charter Revision Commission of July 26, 2023, as approved by the Board of Selectmen? Yes or no."

Click here for a copy of the draft report from Chairman Edward Ohannessian which outlines the suggested revisions/recommendations to the Charter, as well as a redline draft reflecting the proposed revisions. Residents are encouraged to review the report and consider the recommendations prior to voting on November 7, 2023.

Questions can be directed to the Town Clerk's office at (860)844-5308 or TownClerk@Granby-ct.gov