Falmouth Prepares for New Town Charter Review

FALMOUTH – Falmouth selectmen are putting together a nine-member committee to review the town’s charter.  The document dictates that it must be reviewed every seven years. 

Town council, Frank Duffy Jr., explained  the charter’s purpose .  “It’s your basic organization of the town government.  I compare it to the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  It’s a document that creates the body politic and gives form to municipal government,” he said.  

The committee will address the responsibilities, duties and powers of the town meeting, board of selectmen and town manager, put forth provisions for elections and recalls, and  more. 

Duffy points out that the their powers are limited. 

“What the charter committee will do is focus on amendments to the existing charter, intended to make it a more effective document.  It cannot make any substantive changes to the form of government,” Duffy said. 

They will not be reviewing any of the town’s bylaws. 

Applications to serve on the committee, which can be found on the town’s website, will be accepted by the selectmen for 30 days from their January 8th meeting.   

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