On September 30, Town Attorney David Grogins went before the Charter Revision Commission requesting the panel simplify what he called the currently mandated and “elaborate procedure to acquire or dispose of town-owned property.” He suggested commissioners consider language in other town charters that is effective but much less complicated.

Mr Grogins said the idea of such a complex process may have been more justified at the local level before the state initiated a recent law requiring all municipalities to conduct a “widely advertised public hearing to protect from [the] secret disposition” of town and city properties in so-called “sweetheart deals.”

The town attorney suggested Newtown charter commissioners begin by looking at Ridgefield’s process for handling town land sales.

“[They don’t] dispose of a lot of property, but Ridgefield is one town with a simple procedure,” Mr Grogins said, adding that Town Meeting action on land sales has been eliminated in that community except in certain select cases.

“Maybe large tracts can go to Town Meeting, but the Legislative Council or the Board of Selectmen can determine which procedure to follow,” Mr Grogins advised. “I’m more in favor of a simple solution — [Charter Section] 7-90 can be made more effective.”

Commission member George Guidera said after a public hearing, he would recommend permitting certain disposition of land by the council or selectmen. He said if there was discomfort over giving full discretion to either elected board, put a trigger on the land value to be disposed to activate a Town Meeting or referendum process on the sale.

Mr Grogins said based on the relatively few, small public land sales Newtown has administered in recent years, the majority of such actions could likely be accomplished simply and quickly by using either a Request For Proposal (RFP) or private sale process.

The panel and Chairman Jeff Capeci agreed to have Mr Hall draft a new version of Section 7-90.

“There is no reason we can’t get taxable property back on the tax roles as soon as possible,” Mr Hall said. “You want to maximize its value.”

Commissioner Deborra Zukowski said if private sales are being considered, the panel needs to be sure to create language that makes the sale process “as transparent as possible to give people comfort, or to make them more comfortable that it isn’t a sweetheart deal.”

Commissioner James Ritchie said he favored putting all public land sale information on the town website for all to review.

“I’m interested in making details more accessible,” Mr Ritchie said. “To increase the likelihood more folks will know about it.”

After completing their session with the town attorney and adjourning, Ms Zukowski introduced the concept of trying to publicize the work of the charter commission, and to create a way for public interaction with the commission beyond the live meeting format.

She suggested a dedicated web page with survey or comment features, or possibly using social networks like Facebook for the commission to solicit comments and showcase breaking developments as they begin refining Newtown’s constitutional document.

Commissioner Eric Paradis countered that the use of Facebook or other social media limits the number of people who might interact with the commission.

“We need to be sure thousands, not hundreds, can access and engage public conversation,” he said.

Ms Zukowski agreed, saying the challenge would be to reach residents who don’t use social networks or electronic technology. She also suggested Mr Capeci or the commission produce updates via letters or a column in The Newtown Bee.

Before adjourning, Mr Capeci reminded the commission that the Tuesday, October 7, meeting will be conducted at the senior center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook, not at the municipal center.