The town’s Charter Commission will hold two public forums in May to hear residents’ reactions to its draft of a town charter. The first forum will be held Saturday, May 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., on the second floor of Town Hall. The second will be held Thursday, May 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., also on the second floor of Town Hall.
The commission will also meet next month with five of the town’s principal boards to explain the purpose of key draft provisions and to hear the boards’ critiques and concerns: the School Committee and the Planning Board Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in Town Hall; and the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Capital Planning and Investment Committee Tuesday, May 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Town Hall.
Following the forums and meetings with town boards, the commission will gather Thursday, May 25, in Town Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. to review and reflect upon its discussions and to plan next steps. A formal report is due the town in August.
All commission meetings are open (though rarely attended), and time is reserved for public comment at the start of each session. A copy of the latest March 31 draft of the charter is available at the commission’s webpage: http://www.harvard.ma.us/sites/harvardma/files/uploads/17.3.31_v.3_draft_charter.pdf.
