HARTFORD — The Hartford Selectboard has appointed three people to the town’s Charter Committee, setting up the panel for a review process of the town’s rules and governmental structure that is expected to take as long as two years to complete.

The committee will begin its work soon, Town Manager Tracy Yarlott-Davis said.

The Selectboard appointed Lynn Bohi, Dan Nott and FX Flinn. They joined Gabrielle Lucke and Michelle Boleski, who were appointed March 23 by the School Board.

Either Bohi or Flinn, who have served on past committees, will lead the process, Yarlott-Davis said.

“I’m really glad we’re going to be looking at the charter,” she said. “We can always add clarity to these documents and detail.”

The committee’s work will have to be approved by town voters at Town Meeting and then sent to the General Assembly for ratification, likely extending the process into 2024.

The Hartford charter, authorized by Vermont Statute Title 24, Chapter 123A, was first enacted in 2009 and updated in 2011, 2012 and 2017.

The Selectboard appointments to the committee were not without controversy. The board members heard from applicants over two meetings but chose not to make appointments at its March 22 meeting.

On Wednesday, Bohi and Nott were both approved unanimously, and Flinn was approved by a vote of 6-1, with board member Rocket opposing the appointment. Rocket did not give a reason in open session for voting against Flinn.

In fact, there was almost zero discussion in open session, belying Yarlott-Davis’ account of the private session.

“There was a robust conversation,” Yarlott-Davis said. “This is a pretty big deal. I appreciate the diligence with which the Selectboard considered these appointments.”

Noticeably absent from those appointed was Simon Dennis, a member of two previous committees who also served on the Selectboard for nine years, including two as chairman.

Dennis has raised the ire of some in Hartford in recent years because of his advocacy for people experiencing homelessness in the Upper Valley.

At last month’s Selectboard meeting, several community members spoke out against Dennis’ application, saying that his track record of building unpermitted shelters for homeless people on private land, particularly while serving on the Selectboard, should disqualify him.

He also faced pointed questions about his past from board members.

Wednesday, in an interview, Dennis said he wasn’t surprised by the opposition.

“I stand by my past actions,” Dennis said. “I’ve never shied away from it. I’ve never tried to hide anything. I don’t think I’ve harmed anybody or the town.”

He acknowledged that his detractors were correct that his actions to build shelters for unhoused people on Interstate 89, railroad rights of way and Great River Hydro land violated some aspects of the permitting process.

But Dennis questioned whether his application had been treated fairly.

“I think if they were responding to some of that, they might have been justifying expressions and opinions that might not reflect the highest ideals of the town but were more politically expeditious,” Dennis said.

Dennis said that after hearing the opposition against him, he did consider withdrawing his application but decided to wait to see what happened.

He said he applied for the position because of his experience.

“I knew I’d be an asset to that committee,” he said.

Darren Marcy can be reached at dmarcy@vnews.com or 802-291-4992.