This is a summary. The full committee record for this model, including research findings, design questions, and charter implications, is in the Guide to Governance Options.
What this model is
The GA with Select Board model adds a continuously operating elected Select Board to Ophir's existing General Assembly system. The General Assembly remains the town's sole legislative authority, while the Select Board serves as the town's standing administrative and executive body between GA meetings.
This model is derived from New England Town Meeting governance, in which a Select Board serves as the community's standing elected governing body between town meetings. In those systems, the Select Board performs governance functions that Ophir currently assigns to individual charter officers, and a separately elected mayor is generally not part of the structure.
How authority would be divided
The Select Board would handle:
- Supervision and direction of the Town Manager
- Contracting and routine financial administration within GA-established thresholds
- Implementation of GA-adopted ordinances and policies
- Intergovernmental coordination and external liaison with USFS, San Miguel County, and other agencies
- Emergency operational response when GA action cannot be convened in time
- Administrative planning, agenda coordination, preparation of GA business, and continuity of ongoing projects between meetings
The General Assembly would retain authority over:
- All ordinance and legislative authority
- Budget adoption and supplemental appropriations
- Contracts and expenditures above charter-defined thresholds
- Land use decisions and property transactions
- Borrowing, debt issuance, and long-term financial obligations
- Charter amendments and structural governance changes
The GA would also retain the ability to direct the Select Board by motion and to petition for review of any Board decision. Select Board meetings would function as representative governing meetings: residents may attend and speak, but voting would rest with Board members.
How the GA calendar would work
- November: budget first reading
- December: budget final adoption
- March: general session
- July: general session
This preserves continuity with Ophir's current back-to-back November and December budget practice.
How the Select Board would be structured
Select Board size, meeting frequency, terms, compensation, and internal role assignments are design questions the committee explored but did not fully resolve. They would be specified during charter drafting if this model is chosen. In NETM communities, Select Board members typically hold three-year terms. For Ophir, committee discussion identified monthly, every three weeks, and bi-weekly as frequency options. Select Board members would be elected by Ophir's registered voters.
What would stay the same
- All residents may attend and speak at both Select Board and GA meetings
- The Town Manager role continues
- Existing committees and staff would continue supporting town operations under the new structure
- Charter amendment and electorate approval requirements remain the same
What this model would require to implement
Implementing this model would require significant charter amendments, including new articles establishing the Select Board and rewriting existing articles governing the GA, ordinances, officers, the Town Manager, and budget and finance. All charter amendments require approval by a majority of Ophir's registered voters.