CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE
TOWN HALL
May 23, 2006 7:30 PM
Present: Vice Chair Jordan Chatis, members Bill Kirkpatrick, Brad Pellissier, and Janet Starr, First Selectman David Pinney, Selectman Ernie Allsup Absent Chair Alyson Vecchiarelli.
Call to Order: Vice Chair Jordan Chatis called the meeting to order at 7:32.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of 5/16/06 were unanimously approved after the times of call to order and adjournment were amended.
Public Hearing:
Selectman Allsup made two points regarding concerns that appointment of town officials now elected could result in cronyism and would eliminate the people’s ability to choose.
1) The appointment process could include a search committee composed of a cross section of representatives from the town that would submit candidates to the Board of Selectmen for final decision.
2) The process could also include confirmation of these appointments by Town meeting.
He also spoke about the accountability of elected and appointed officials. Appointed officials are more accountable because corrective action to improve performance can be enforced (an elected official can simply ignore such attempts by the selectmen). Elected officials are easier to fire because they can simply be voted out of office (an appointed official could be dismissed, but only for demonstrated cause, which is sometimes difficult).
Old Business
1. Board of Finance Regulations: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following change in section 6.8e:
From… The regulations of the Board of Finance required by this charter shall be consistent with this Charter …
to…. Any regulations developed by the Board of Finance shall be consistent with this Charter and …
2. Date of Annual Town Meeting: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously send to the town attorney for review the following changes in section 7.1a
From… The Annual Town Meeting, which shall also be the annual budget meeting, shall be held on the first Monday of May each year unless changed by vote of a Town Meeting or by referendum…
to… The Annual Town Meeting, which shall also be the annual budget meeting, shall be held within 15 days of the first Monday of May each year unless changed by vote of a Town Meeting or by referendum…
A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following changes in section 7.1c
From… All Town Meetings shall be
advertised in a newspaper having circulation in Somers and posted on the bulletin Board at Town Hall and Somersville Post
Office or alternatively at another suitable location at least five days
prior to date of meeting. Warnings for
Town Meetings may be typewritten or printed and a copy shall be filed with the
Town Clerk in Town Meeting Record
Book. Warnings for Town Meetings must
contain place, date and hour of meeting and list all articles to be acted upon.
To… All Town Meetings shall be advertised in a newspaper having circulation in Somers at least five days prior to date of meeting. Warnings for Town Meetings may be typewritten or printed and a copy shall be filed with the Town Clerk consistent with statutory requirements.
3. Budget Referendum Dates: This item was tabled so that members can consider whether or how to include in the Town Charter what is now fixed by ordinance.
4. Appropriation Limits: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following changes in section 6.7b
From… …An appropriation from the reserve fund in an amount not more than $10,000 may be made on recommendation of the Board of Finance and approval by the Board of Selectmen, except that for this section only recommended appropriation of more than that amount shall require approval by vote of Town Meeting…
To… …An appropriation from the reserve fund in an amount not more than the amount permitted in CGS 7- 348may be made on recommendation of the Board of Finance and approval by the Board of Selectmen, except that for this section only recommended appropriation of more than that amount shall require approval by vote of Town Meeting…
5. Voting Districts/Polling Places: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following changes in section 2.2.
From… There shall be two voting districts in the town. District One shall be that portion of Somers located in House District 52. District Two shall be that portion of Somers located in House District 59. The Town may be divided further into more than two voting districts in accordance with the provisions of CGS 9-169.
To… The Town may be divided into voting districts as deemed necessary by
the board of selectmen in accordance with the provisions of CGS 9-169.
6. Publication of Ordinances: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following changes in sections 4b & d.
4b From… Ten days' notice of the hearing shall be given by publication of the proposed ordinance in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town and by making copies available at the Town Hall.
To… Ten days' notice of the hearing shall be given by publication of a summary of the proposed ordinance in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town and by making copies of the ordinance in it’s entirety available at the Town Hall.
4d From… If the Board of Selectmen votes to enact a proposed ordinance, the ordinance as enacted shall be published within ten days in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town; and filed with the Town Clerk…
To…If the Board of Selectmen votes to enact a proposed ordinance, a summary the ordinance as enacted shall be published within ten days in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town; and the ordinance in it’s entirety filed with the Town Clerk…
New Business
1. Elected Constables: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the deletion of “Four constables” from section 3.1.
2. Filling mid-term vacancies on Boards and Commissions (sections 2. 1 and 5.3): Members will review these try to develop language to make them more flexible when appointments from the required party are not available.
3. Filling mid-term vacancies on the Board of Selectmen: This must still be reconciled with whatever is written into 2.1.
4. Confirmation of Appeals: We decided not to act on this section7.6 at this time as it does provide a check on sensitive appointments.
5. Board of Assessors: If feeling better, Alyson will contact Board of Assessors to ask them to attend a future meeting to discuss their role in detail. Otherwise Alyson will delegate this task.
6. Commencement of terms: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review a change which would make all terms commence on December 22. Brad will put together a draft of the language for this change.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Kirkpatrick
Secretary