Registrar Offers Charter

Revision Details In Plain Language

By John Voket

To help voters in their consideration of the referendum questions that appear on the sample ballot in this edition of The Newtown Bee, Registrar of Voters LeReine Frampton sought to refine the elements of those changes into “simple language format.” Ms Frampton said these suggested interpretations only represent her input, and do not represent legal or binding content.

Legislative Council Chairman William Rodgers said he informally reviewed Ms Frampton’s suggestions, thought they were adequately simplified, and did not see any conflict in them.

In the instance of any charter question failing, the original language remains intact until it is taken up again and potentially changed in a future charter revision process. The explanations below appear in the same order as the corresponding passages in the proposed revisions.

Question 4

According to Ms Frampton, the approval of Question 4 would amend the charter to allow the finance director the flexibility to take advantage of savings on Newtown’s outstanding bonds. The next amendment requires the Capital Improvement Plan be submitted to the Board of Finance. Since the current charter has many references to “approval by the Board of Selectmen,” the next provision clarifies that the first selectman can act only with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.

The following amendment allows for changes to the charter that were requested by the finance director and Legislative Council based on recommendations from Moody’s Investment Service. This will make Newtown’s charter conform to Moody’s guidelines and remove some deterrents for an improvement to the town’s bond rating.

The next amendment states that the Legislative Council is responsible for all regulations regarding the capital improvement plan. Since the annual town meeting only receives reports from town departments that have already submitted the same information administratively, the next revision would remove that provision.

Currently any appropriation over $150,000 goes to a town meeting. The next amendment will change those guidelines: $500,000 up to $10 million goes to a town meeting (the voters still have the right to petition for a referendum); $10 million and up goes to an automatic referendum.

The Board of Tax Review is erroneously referred to as Board of Assessment Appeals — approval of this question will correct that clerical error. By state statute, referenda are only required to be held from noon until 8 pm; the next change would guarantee that all of Newtown’s referenda will be from 6 am until 8 pm.

Question 5

The Charter currently requires conflicts of interest be stated and made a part of meeting minutes. Adopting this amendment would release the member identifying a conflict from stating the reason for the record. Attorneys, for example, are often prohibited from revealing client or case details, and thus are sometimes unable to comply with the requirement to reveal a conflict.

If approved, this change would allow the registrar of voters to request a change of district lines without having to wait for a Legislative Council recommendation. Once proposed by the registrar’s office, the Legislative Council would still have to approve any changes.

This change would clarify, but does not change, eligibility to run for office.

The current charter has many references to “approval by the Board of Selectmen.” This measure would clarify that the first selectman may act only with the approval of the Board of Selectmen as to the enumerated matters.

The charter currently uses he, his, or him with a gender statement (8-80) to clarify that either gender is embraced by those terms. This amendment would remove the gender statement (8-80) and change the charter to read he/she, his/hers, or him/her.

Question 6

This amendment would clarify that the Legislative Council has the authority to pass the budget on to the voters, and would change some of the number of votes by the Legislative Council required for various actions, and to add local questions to the annual budget ballot.

When a motion is filed by the Legislative Council, the time allowed for collecting signatures on a petition to bring the item to referendum begins the same day. This change would prevent a 4:30 pm Friday filing, which would in effect cause the petitioners to lose a weekend for signature gathering.

The change would require posting of notices in a newspaper with a substantial circulation in Newtown, and would increase the term of office for the town clerk from two years to four years.

Question 7

Currently there is a maximum of three members from any party on the six-member Board of Education. This amendment would increase the total number of members to seven, and allow up to four members from any one political party. This vacancy will be filled by the current Board of Education, and the appointee would serve until the November 2009 local election.

Question 8

Currently easements are allowed if necessary to serve that property only; this amendment, if approved, would allow an easement on town property if it is for the good of the town.

Currently appointments to boards and commissions are allowed by an outgoing first selectman with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, until the final eight days in office. This amendment would end that power on Election Day.

Complaints made to the Board of Ethics are currently public information. This amendment would keep any complaint confidential until the complaint is deemed to have merit by the Board of Ethics. This is to protect innocent individuals from any exposure that might be caused by accusations without merit.

This amendment would also empower the Parks and Recreation Commission to appoint ad hoc committees as needed to consider special projects.

The current charter makes many references to approval by the Board of Selectmen. If approved, this amendment would clarify that the first selectman may act only with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.

Passing this amendment would establish a Cultural Arts Commission provision in the charter; there is already a local ordinance permitting this commission.

Party Reactions

This week, both major parties in town also weighed in on referendum questions. Republican Town Committee Chair William Brimmer, Jr, said his party is endorsing Question 4.

Representatives for the Democratic Town Committee also voted to endorse Question 4, saying it contains the language required by Moody’s in order for the town to be better positioned for a bond rating increase.

Party Chair James Juliano said via a written statement that an increase in Newtown’s bond rating “will save the taxpayers quite a bit of money when you look into the figures in the Capital Improvement Plan.”

The DTC also voted against Question 7, members saying they disagreed with a seventh member being chosen by Board of Education members and not the voters. “We would rather it be a democratic process,” Mr Juliano said in his statement, which was also signed by DTC officers Sarah Hemingway, Anna Wiedemann, and Alan Clavette.

In regard to the charter questions, Ms Frampton reminded voters to take the time to consider each item and to cast votes on all the proposals because a minimum number of votes must be cast in order for the changes to take effect.

“In order for the charter to be changed, 15 percent, or 2,400 of the 16,000 registered voters, must cast a Yes vote for each of the questions,” Ms Frampton said. “So voters should plan to take their time and carefully consider each question.”