CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE

TOWN HALL

May 30, 2006    7:30 PM

 

Present: Chair Alyson Vecchiarelli, Vice Chair Jordan Chatis, members Bill Kirkpatrick, Brad Pellissier, and Janet Starr

 

Call to Order: Chair Alyson Vecchiarelli called the meeting to order at 7:32.

 

Approval of Minutes:  The minutes of 5/23/06 were unanimously approved.

 

Public Hearing:  No public comment.

 

Old Business:

a.  Budget Referendum dates:

            A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to 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 within 15 days of the first Monday of May each year unless changed by vote of a Town Meeting or by referendum. Special Meetings shall be called by the Board of Selectmen in the manner provided by the General Statutes whenever they deem it necessary, or on application by fifty persons qualified to vote in Town Meeting.

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, to consider all items on the call except those relating to the Annual Budget.  All items on the call relating to the Annual Budget shall be voted on at a referendum not less than seven or more than fourteen days after said Annual Town Meeting on a date set by said meeting; or if said meeting does not set a date, by the Town Selectmen.  Special Meetings shall be called by the Board of Selectmen in the manner provided by the General Statutes whenever they deem it necessary, or on application by fifty persons qualified to vote in Town Meeting.

            A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to send to the town attorney for review the following changes in section 7.1b: Insert the following as section 7.1b.

If the Annual Budget is not approved by vote at the first scheduled referendum, the Town Selectmen shall schedule subsequent referendums until the Annual budget is approved.

Move 7.1b to 7.1c, and 7.1c to 7.1d.

 

b.  Clerk of Board of Selectmen: 

            A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to strike section 4.6 from the charter.

 

c.  Elected Constables:

            This was voted on at the last meeting (5/23).

 

d.  Filling mid-term vacancies on boards and commissions

            We agreed to have the town attorney provide information about the implications and constraints of the minority representation statute.

 

e.  Filling mid-term vacancies on Board of Selectmen

            We agreed to have the town attorney provide information about the implications and constraints of General Statutes on filling vacancies on the Board of Selectmen.

 

f.  Board of Assessors:

            A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to leave language in the charter concerning the Board of Assessors.

 

g.  Commencement of terms:

            This was voted on at the last meeting (5/23).

 

New Business

a.  Elected v Appointed Treasurer, Tax Collector, Town Clerk

            We reviewed the arguments presented to us and developed by us concerning this issue.

Arguments for appointment

Arguments for Election

1.  As the jobs become more complex, more expertise is needed.  Appointment makes it easier to assure the needed expertise.

1.  Election gives townspeople maximum say in who holds the positions.

2.  Appointed person can take a longer view and look for ways to improve operations; elected person could try simply to avoid mistakes in order to get re-elected.

2.  It is easier to “fire” of an elected person than an appointed person.  (Vote him/her out of office)

3.  Appointment allows the town to choose from a wider pool of qualified candidates; election limits us to residents.

3.  Election avoids any taint of cronyism.

4.  Easy to check references and background of applicant for appointed position; very difficult for elected.

4.  Cost of firing an appointed official can be substantial.

5.  In some cases, no one with adequate credentials may come forward to run for elected positions; then people without adequate expertise may be asked to run.

5.  Salary for appointed official may be higher, particularly over time.

6.  An appointed person from out of town brings no personal issues with people in town to the job.  Elected person could.

6.  The elected official will be a town resident with a stake in outcomes.

7.  As general rule it makes sense to appoint to jobs that implement and to elect to positions that make policy and set direction.  These three jobs are all implementers.

 

 

b.  Length of Terms: 

            No action taken on this item.

 

c.  Term Limitations:

            A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to drop this issue from consideration.

 

Public Comment:

            None

 

Discussion re further meeting/tasks

            We agree to ask the town attorney to give us language concerning proposed changes in 7.7 concerning the sale or purchase of real estate.

            We created a tentative schedule for finishing our work:

            June 6: Decide on outstanding issues

            June13:  Look at draft report

            June 20: Hold public hearing with a meeting that night to revisit specific issues or vote to send to the Board of Selectmen.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:29.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Bill Kirkpatrick

Secretary