As the Town Administrator Workgroup enters its third month of study and interviews about a possible change to the way the municipality is managed on a day-to-day basis, mostly centered on the possibility of hiring a town administrator, the one thing that members feel has been lacking has been public input.

Realizing part of that may be attributable to their Monday afternoon meeting time, the workgroup is planning their public hearing at 6 pm Monday, May 15, in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Center.

Prior to the public hearing, the workgroup will be conducting its normal meeting at 5 pm — possibly conducting interviews of town and out-of-town officials, to be decided at a future date.

Board of Finance member Laura Miller, attending the workgroup’s March 20 meeting as a member of the public, expressed that she was happy to hear about the evening meeting.

“I’m so glad you’ll be having an evening meeting,” said Miller, who also asked the workgroup a number of questions concerning the group’s findings so far.

Miller asked about what happens with a difference in opinion between a first selectman and the town administrator. Workgroup Chairman and town Selectman Maureen Crick Owen replied that the first selectman would have final say.

“The town administrator reports to the first selectman,” said Crick Owen. “The first selectman decides.”

The town manager is essentially the chief executive officer of a town, rather than the first selectman; while a town administrator works as an assistant to the Board of Selectmen.

Miller asked what the parameters for success for a town administrator would be, and Crick Owen said that the first selectman “is dragged in all directions” and “gets off track of looking at the long-term vision.”

“That’s what helps the first selectman,” said Crick Owen.

Miller also asked about the possibility of making the first selectman a four-year term instead of a two-year term.

Crick Owen answered that would require a charter change, and the fear would be that a new first selectman that theoretically might not be as accomplished in the job as the previous occupants of the office would have “longer to do damage” with a longer term.

Herb Rosenthal Visits

Earlier in the meeting, the workgroup interviewed former First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

Crick Owen noted that from the limited public input the workgroup has received, one question that comes up is why they are looking at a town administrator, since it would be extra cost to the town.

Rosenthal said the job of first selectman has become “more complex” over the years since his father was first selectman in the ‘70s and into the ‘80s, and from when he was first selectman from 1997 to 2007, and especially in the 16 years since he left office.

“Because it’s become more complex, the things needed to know in town has grown,” said Rosenthal. “The state legislature in its infinite wisdom is always adding new statutes.”

Rosenthal noted that his father was in the first selectman’s office 12 years, he was in office for ten years, former first selectman Pat Llodra was in office for eight years, and Rosenthal’s son Dan Rosenthal will be leaving office after six years on November 30.

“The concern is continuity,” said Rosenthal. “That would create less likelihood of turnover [in town departments] and they can accomplish more.”

Rosenthal said that when he was in office, he had an additional secretarial position in his office to help out with administrative tasks.

“I don’t know why that was eliminated after I left,” said Rosenthal.

Believing that a move straight to a town manager model of government was a “big step,” he said that a town administrator would be a good intermediate step to “test out” such a hired position and “see how it goes.”

Crick Owen agreed, saying that a first selectman to town manager change would be an “A to Z change,” but adding a town administrator would be an “A to B change.”

“If things don’t work out, we can go back,” said Crick Owen.

Rosenthal said that the workgroup has done a “lot of study” and has the research to “back up any decision [it] may make.”

The final decision on whether to follow the workgroup’s recommendation would likely be up to the next first selectman, but Crick Owen felt that it could be “beneficial to those that want to run.”

“It could take some of the pressure off of them,” said Crick Owen.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.