AMHERST — An initial meeting to collect feedback from residents about the town charter adopted by voters seven years ago, putting in place a council-manager form of government, takes place Wednesday.

Starting at 7 p.m. at the Bangs Community Center’s Large Activity Room, the Charter Review Outreach Subcommittee is inviting people to participate in a public listening session.

The Charter Review Committee was formed by the Town Council as a requirement of the charter in years ending in the number 4, though its work, and its final report, has been extended for several months.

Approved by voters in 2018, the charter adopted a 13-member elected Town Council that replaced the 240-member representative Town Meeting and five-member Select Board, but maintained a town manager.

During the listening session, people can share thoughts and opinions about town government and how it is working. Two additional in-person listening sessions will follow at the same location and the same time, the first June 30 and the second July 23. One virtual session via Zoom will be held July 8, also at 7 p.m.

Those on an outreach subcommittee, which met June 11, will oversee the session and may offer some guidance to attendees on what aspects of the charter can be reviewed.

Committee member Erika Mijlin said at that meeting the session will begin with an explanation of the purpose of getting insights from residents. “It’s really integrated into the charge, is the public feedback portion,” Mijlin said.

Committee member Raphael Rogers said easel pads will be set up so that all comments can be collected. “Just let folks share: what would you change, what are your thoughts?” Rogers said.

There may also be boards where people can place small dot stickers to indicate their support for a concept, said committee member Meg Gage. “The thing is not just to get ideas, but see which ideas have a lot of support,” Gage said.

What written comments reveal so far

The committee has been accepting written comments, as well, which have offered a range of opinions, with some of the recent comments suggesting term limits.

“My first recommendation is that the charter should limit the number of consecutive terms served by a council president to two, two-year terms, running the length of two legislative sessions so a total of four years,” former Town Councilor Darcy DuiMont wrote.

Similarly, Ira Bryck of Strong Street wrote that implementing term limits for councilors and the council president would “prevent concentration of power.”

Hilda Greenbaum of Montague Road wrote that for all meetings being held virtually, “Zoom attendees must know who is also in the zoom room.” This concern for Rani Parker of North Prospect Street: “Residents should have the option to be visible on Zoom whether speaking or not, for all public meetings, including meetings of the Town Council. Speakers should be encouraged to show themselves — how else do we know who is speaking?”

The League of Women Voters has previously prepared its own report, recommending that Town Council have the power to hire its own attorney, shortening the lame duck period for outgoing councilors, and better delineating the powers of the town manager. Its recommendations also include two items outside the scope of the formal review being done: a study of changing the form of government to one with a council and mayor, and adjusting the threshold for voters to veto a council decision.

Once all feedback is gathered, there are some changes that can be made by a simple vote of the Town Council, others that would require a townwide vote and still others that would require a new, elected Charter Commission to be formed or state legislation. A new Charter Commission is required for any changes that relate to the size of the Town Council, the election process and whether Amherst has a manager or a mayor.

For more information about the Amherst Charter Review Committee, go to amherstma.gov/amherst-charter-review.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.