The registered voters of the Town of Barrington on the same date on which the Financial Town Referendum is scheduled shall by ballot elect, a committee of five (5) persons to hold a pre-Financial Town Referendum public hearing consistent with Section 7-1-5 of this Charter, for the purpose of hearing all members of the public of the Town interested in preparing a budget to be approved pursuant to the Financial Town Referendum process and to submit a printed report of their recommendations for expenditures to be approved as part of the Financial Town Referendum process, and the amount of tax which will be necessary to levy to pay such expenses. This Committee shall be known as the Committee on Appropriations.
Members of the Committee on Appropriations shall be elected to two-year staggered terms, beginning in May 2015, when three (3) members shall be elected for a two-year term and two (2) members shall be elected for a one-year term. In subsequent elections, members shall be elected to two-year terms.
The members of the Committee on Appropriations shall serve without salary, but an appropriation for their actual expenses shall be made.
In case of a vacancy on the Committee, such vacancy shall be filled as soon as possible by the Council.
The Committee on Appropriations shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from its membership and shall adopt its own rules and order of business.
As soon after the annual Financial Town Referendum process is completed as conveniently possible, the Committee on Appropriations shall certify to the Finance Director, Town Manager, the President of the Council, and Superintendent and Chairperson of the School Committee the approved detailed budget.