Date: Fri 31-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

charter-revision-town-clerk

Full Text:

Charter Panel Votes To Keep Town Clerk's Office Elective

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Charter Revision Commission last week voted 7-4 in favor of keeping the

town clerk an elected position.

Last February, First Selectman Bob Cascella recommended the commission change

the charter to make the town clerk position an appointed one, and four of the

panel's members favored the change: Republican Mike Snyder, and Democrats Stan

Karpacz, Steve Koch and Brandt Schneider.

In the end, however, the majority of the commission agreed with Cindy Curtis

Simon, Newtown's town clerk for the past nine years. She showed up prior to

the vote to speak in favor of keeping the position elected. She argued that

the office would be subject to political influence if the change were

approved. Mrs Curtis Simon said the town clerk's office deals with the public

more than any other, and by making the job appointed, she feared it would take

away one more choice for the voters to make.

Mr Snyder, however, said experience can be negated with an election. He said

if there was an opening for an "appointed" town clerk position, the Board of

Selectmen would have the ability to conduct a job search to find the best

possible candidate. With an election, Mr Snyder said, a candidate could win

with no prior knowledge of a town clerk's duties.

Of course, the votes taken by the Charter Revision Commission are far from

final. Its members, according to member Mae Schmidle, can always request an

issue be reopened, even after a vote. All votes by the Charter Revision

Commission are then subject to the approval of the Legislative Council in the

spring and then the taxpayers in November.

At Large Council Members

Last week, the charter revisionists also voted 8-3 to change the town charter

to allow for three Legislative Council candidates to run at-large rather than

by district. Nine candidates would continue to run as district members, with

each of the town's three districts electing three candidates.

Greg Bunger also proposed that the number of Legislative Council members of

any one political party not exceed two of the three elected from each

district. His idea was turned down 7-4, but some members felt the issue needed

to be discussed further. Attorney Catherine Thompson has been asked to review

minority representation issues in the charter.

The Charter Revision Commission is facing a deadline to file a draft report

with the Legislative Council by mid-March.

The commission was expected to discuss revisions to the charter's budget

timeline at its meeting Thursday night.