Community Corner

Charter Revision Put on Hold

It could be revisited in two weeks.

Vernon will not have its Charter revised.

Well, that could change in two weeks.

But for now, a 6-6 council vote on Tuesday to authorize a charter revision put the plan on hold. Republican Adam Weissberger and the council  Democrats all voted to can the idea. Two-thirds of the 12 council members were needed to pass the motion.

It will likely revisited in two weeks after the Democrats have a chance to work on what Michael Winkler was calling a "scrupulously bi-partisan" makeup.

Mayor George Apel said if the council approves the creation of a charter revision commission, the town could have had a referendum the first week in March of 2013.

A charter revision commission must be made up of between five and 15 members, all electors in the town and no more than a third of the committee   may be office-holders and no party may have more than a bare majority, by state law, Apel said. Apel wants five. A small committee get more done, Steven Peterson said a small grouped would be more efficient.

Democrat Thomas DiDio said the Democrats want a 2-2-1 makeup with each party choosing its own commission members and the unaffiliated member could be chosen by the council.

Apel told DiDio he could present five resumes right then and there with such a makeup.

After the meeting he repeated the offer.

The Democrats indicated they would vote on revising the Town Charter and its makeup and timetable in two weeks if those rules were set up.

Apel said after the meeting that no one formally proposed it as an agenda item - yet.

"I can still produce the resumes of five potential good members," he said.


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