Charter panel votes 8-2 to tie officials to first selectman
Other Committee · Meeting of April 27, 2026
New Canaan's Charter Revision Commission voted 8-2 to require elected department heads be "accountable to the first selectman," over objections it undercuts independently elected offices. Commissioner Steve Case called the language overdue, saying it "establishes a line of authority which has been unclear." Commissioner Judy Neville pushed a separate provision requiring Town Council approval, and referendum eligibility, for sales, long-term leases and zone changes on town property above a proposed $500,000 threshold, citing the 2016 West School cell tower fight as justification. The panel logged 155 public survey responses on its draft, kept Board of Finance terms at four years while moving most other boards to three, and warned that any delay past Friday could push the report past deadlines needed for the November 3 ballot.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,058 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of April 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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