Charter panel approves intergovernmental agreements article

Other Committee · Meeting of May 5, 2026

Paxton's Charter Review Committee approved a draft charter article on intergovernmental agreements and shelved a separate article amid a dispute over wording. Committee member Gary led a section-by-section review of the agreements article, which lets the select board enter shared-service deals, like the town's existing regional animal control arrangement with Rutland, without a town meeting vote, while requiring an annual cost-benefit report from the town administrator and Finance Committee. Clerk Paul Burtler said he favored "not adding extra requirements" for town meeting approval of routine agreements.

Members Paul, Megan, Chuck and Dave voted yes to approve the article unanimously. The committee then stalled on its Legislative Powers article after member Dave said he would restore the term "qualified voter" despite a prior committee vote favoring "registered voter," pushing the committee to set that article aside and instead review three other draft articles, town elections, transition provisions and financial procedures, at its May 12 meeting.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of May 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.