Charter revisions will aim to bolster fight against blight

Springfield has launched a yearlong rewrite of the town charter with a eye toward giving the town more power in its fight against blight.

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Published January 29, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Charter revisions will aim to bolster fight against blight By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Springfield has launched a yearlong rewrite of the town charter with a eye toward giving the town more power in its fight against blight. Seven members of the public will be appointed to the charter review commission, which will have two members of the Select Board and two members of the town administration, for a total of 11 members. People interested in serving on the commission should contact Town Hall. The town charter itself lays out the revision process. The goal, according to Select Board members Walter Martone and Peter MacGillivray, is to have the revised document ready for a townwide vote at town meeting in 2017. Martone first suggested it was time to take a look at the charter, which was last revised 30 years ago. The language alone needed to be updated, he said. Martone said in a followup interview the Vermont League of Cities and Towns had told he and MacGillivray that other Vermont towns had put language in their charters to also deal with the issue of blight. “Rutland, I understand, has done some things with its charter,” said Martone. He said the charter revision, when coupled with legislation recently introduced by Springfield’s representatives, could hopefully give the town some teeth in getting property owners to maintain their homes and businesses. If the legislation fails, he said, the Legislature might grant Springfield the right to enforce such action via its charter. “We need to attack this from every angle,” he said. Martone said interested registered voters in Springfield should get an application form from the town office. Within two weeks, the Select Board will conduct interviews with candidates for the panel. “All must be registered voters,” said Chairman Kristi Morris. “We need to get started.” The Select Board late last year had held a “strategic planning session,” and many of the goals from that session will be incorporated into the charter, as applicable, Morris said. Select Board member George McNaughton suggested the panel rely on Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda rather than an out-of-town consultant such as the League of Cities and Towns. “Sometimes you get such silly recommendations,” he said, noting that in any case, Ankuda or other parties would be there “just to assist, and not (to) write it.” http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160129/NEWS02/160129416