CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE

TOWN HALL

May 16, 2006 6:30 PM

Present: Vice Chair, Jordan Chatis, members Bill Kirkpatrick, Brad Pellissier, and Janet Starr; First Selectman David Pinney, Town Clerk Ann Logan, Town Treasurer Ed Sullivan, Finance Board Members Steve Krasinski and Marilyn Pronovost. Absent: Chair Alyson Vecchiarelli.

Call to Order: Vice Chair Jordan Chatis called the meeting to order at 6:55.

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of May 10, 2006.

Discussion of position of Treasurer:

Ed Sullivan said that if the position is appointed it should be a Finance Director and Tax Collector and Town clerk should also be appointed. If elected, all should be four-year terms.

Steve Krasinski emphasized that the charter needs to insist that terms overlap so that new people in these offices receive some help from outgoing people. The major difference is that appointed people will cost more.

Marilyn Pronovost noted that the Treasurer position is becoming more complicated; it is no longer simply bookkeeping. It now requires an understanding of bonding, federal rules, and

financial projections. Only by making it appointed can you set qualifications.

Financial Issues in the Charge

Finance Board members Feedback on Financial Issues in Charge

-Leave in the power to make regulations

-More time is needed to put together budget and the referendum process needs to be less cumbersome. Having selectmen set referendum dates will speed the process.

-Appropriation limit needs to be higher. CRC needs to look at state statute to see how it sets limits and what it sets limits on. Index the limit and keep it simple.

Voting Districts: Tentative consensus to use the wording similar to Tolland’s, which gives the Selectmen discretion in creating districts and setting up polling places.

Ordinances: Tentative consensus to change wording to allow for summaries in newspaper publications before and after enactment.

Clerk of Board of Selectmen: Tentative consensus to cut this section.

Advertising of Town Meetings: Tentative consensus to simplify this section as discussed.

Next Meeting: The next meeting is Tuesday May 23 at 7:30.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Kirkpatrick

Secretary