Charter Committee Locks In Two Public Surveys
Other Committee · Meeting of August 12, 2026
Bridgewater Charter Review Committee locks in two surveys, adds recall question. Vice Chair Eric Dias led the panel through more than 30 roll-call votes to finalize a 14-question resident survey and a separate stakeholder questionnaire, both set to close September 30. Members added a question asking whether the charter should allow recalling elected officials on a "no confidence" vote, deliberately separated from a criminal-misconduct recall measure already headed to the April ballot.
Committee member Gene DeBatista argued the two should stay distinct: "This is just asking, should there be one?" Resident Janet Hanson urged the committee to write an enforceable review deadline into the charter itself, saying a council resolution "doesn't have teeth." Roughly 13 residents and four town councilors attended the committee's first public forum that morning, with communication between residents and town government emerging as the top theme; two more forums are set for August 24 and September 12.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,783 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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