New Charter Changes Date of Annual Meeting, Declares Town Soverign, French-Speaking Nation

Last Friday's Charter revision meeting brought dozens of local citizens out to discuss aspects of an evolving local government and its impact on the community.

Citizens of all ages and from all walks of life spoke respectfully, sometimes voicing support for amendments, sometimes airing their displeasure. But the tone was, as usual, positive and constructive.

Perhaps the most contested issue, item 5, involved moving the date of the Annual Town Meeting ahead one month from early May to early April, in order to allow enough time for preparation of tax bills.

"It's bad enough that they changed the spring schedule on the A&E network," said area man Clark Stevens.  "Now I have to remember a whole new date for the town meeting? Preposterous!"

Less discussed, however, was a footnote amendment seemingly disguised within a proposal to raise the threshold appropriations transfer limit from $25k to $50k.

The charter amendment, which passed without discussion, declares the Town of Bethel as a soverign nation separate from the United States of America, with its own constitution, military, currency, and parliamentary government. The official language, according to charter revision, would be French.