It’s Too Early To Draw Conclusions About Charter Revision

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to your editorial in last week’s edition of The Newtown Bee regarding the objectives of the Charter Revision Commission. Your opinion was clear that Newtown’s government “runs well and is well configured,” and that “it may need a tune-up, but not a major overhaul.”

Since becoming a member of the Charter Revision Commission, and for a long time before that, I have heard many comments from a number of our citizens that give me quite a different viewpoint. I have also diligently followed (through the excellent coverage and reporting of The Bee) much of the business and conduct of Newtown’s government and its officials. The overall impression that I am receiving is that Newtown’s government is neither well configured nor is it running well.

I am however, pragmatic enough to realize that our divergent opinions can be fairly subjective, depending on the sources of our information and our personal experiences. That is why I feel it is premature to make a judgment at this time on the health of Newtown’s government and the possible remedy.

The Charter Revision Commission has just begun to do its work and there is much to be done, including interviews with town officials, examination of other town charters, meetings with representatives from other Connecticut towns, evaluating feedback from our citizens and town workers, etc. It is not helpful at this time in the process to preempt the mission of the commission with statements condoning or condemning “a complete overhaul” of town government.

I am confident that whatever recommendations come out of this commission’s efforts will be made in the best interest of the town and its citizens. Let us also be careful not to read too much into the sparse attendance at the first public hearing held by the commission. Even if that were interpreted as an indication of the public’s tolerance of the status quo, this should not obviate the commission members’ mandate to submit any and all recommendations which might make our government run more efficiently and economically. Whether that will require minor adjustments or a complete tune-up is yet to be determined.

George Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                      December 12, 2000