Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

police-commission-charter

Full Text:

GENNEWS

Police Commission Seeks Charter Recognition As Traffic Authority

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

The Board of Police Commissioners recommended some changes in the town charter

at the Charter Revision Commission meeting this week that would affirm its

status as the town's official traffic authority.

"By state statute, the traffic commission in town is the Board of Police

Commissioners," said Commissioner William Meyer, "and I think it should say

that somewhere in our charter."

Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat said there have been occasional

problems when other commissions in town made decisions about traffic signs,

lights or curb cuts that should be decided by the police commission.

Mr Meyer said the charter says that any member of a board or commission cannot

be elected or appointed to any other board or commission but it does not

mention whether this applies to positions with the Borough of Newtown.

"It became a question when I became a police commissioner and at the same time

was the chairman of the Borough Zoning Commission," he said.

Speaking as a private citizen, Mr Meyer said he believes the current Board of

Selectmen and Legislative Council form of government is extremely cumbersome

and should be changed to either have a first selectman/council or a council

and board of finance.

"The way it is, there is too much duplication," he said. "Sooner or later, I

think Newtown will need a town manager."

Kevin Cragin, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, also spoke to the

Charter Revision Commission. He said the Newtown has a very effective fire

service which operates well. "If it's not broken, there's no reason to change

it," he said.

The Charter Revision Commission will meet again on Thursday, March 28, at 7:30

pm in the old courtroom in the lower level of Edmond Town Hall. Among those

invited to speak at this meeting is Town Clerk Cindy Curtis. Some town

officials have recommended that the clerk's job become an appointed position.

Ms Curtis has opposed this change, saying the position should remain elected.

A public participation session is included in each Charter Revision Commission

meeting.