MANCHESTER -- The Mayor and Board of Aldermen have scheduled an emergency meeting for 5:15 p.m. this evening to ensure that the question of whether to establish a charter commission is put before voters on primary day Sept. 11.

The board already approved the ballot question, however, the state Secretary of State's Office informed the city clerk on Wednesday that it could not appear on the state ballot.

A vote is necessary to authorize to the city hold its own election on the question coinciding with the state primary. Doing so will save the city the $45,000 it would cost to hold a separate election, according to City Clerk Matthew Normand.

Tomorrow is the last day the vote could be taken, because state law requires ballots to be approved at least 60 days before an election.

A charter commission, if approved by voters, would have the power to make fundamental changes in the structure of city government and the respective authorities of the Board of Aldermen and the Board of School Committee.