Updated & Corrected April 6, 11:40 a.m.
The Charter Revision Commission voted on April 4 to stick with its decision made in March to recommend that the first selectman position no longer be permitted to serve as chairman of the Board of Finance.
This action came after seven Board of Finance members attended a CRC meeting March 31 and urged CRC to consider re-voting on its decision regarding the first selectman serving on Finance.
The April 4 motion to reconsider failed in a five to four vote.
Kit Devereaux, Mike Franco, Rich Townsend, and Russell Kimes voted to consider. Penny Young, Kate Hurlock, Chairman Dave Hunt, Kathleen Corbet, and Sally Hines voted against reconsideration.
Throughout the Charter Revision Commission’s work, which started in September, the leaders have stated that the recommendations being made by the group pertain to the positions in the town government, not any individual person currently holding those positions.
During the public comments portion of the meeting prior to that vote, Michael Nowacki, a citizen who has spoken at multiple Charter Revision meetings, urged the CRC to “stand your” ground.
“It is just inappropriate that this group would be reconsidering a matter that clearly has been decided.” Nowacki said.
Another audience member spoke up in agreement. Roy Abramowitz, an advocate of an elected Board of Finance said, “I find it unethical for the appointed Board of Finance to show up and say, ‘Hey guys and girls, let’s have a revote.’”
[For report on Finance members’ comments at the March 31 meeting, click here.]
Periodic review
The CRC voted unanimously April 4 that the Town Council shall consider “Periodic Charter Review no less frequently than every 10 years.”
The CRC will hold a public hearing on the draft April 13. After the CRC’s public hearing, its plan is to consider and possibly make final changes to its draft and submit a final report to the Town Council April 20.
The Town Council’s job is to decide which, if any, of the CRC’s recommended revisions to the Charter are placed on the November election ballot. Ultimately any proposed change to the Charter is decided by the electorate.
Draft Report now available
The CRC also took a page-by-page approach to revise some of the minor language throughout the Town Charter. All of which are highlighted in the pdf version of the draft report, available HERE.
CLICK HERE for more on the Charter Revision Commission.
Charter Revision chairman Dave Hunt, left, Charter Revision members Russell Kimes, Rich Townsend, Kathleen Corbet discussing tie-breakers at the April 4 meeting. —Rich Durazzo, Jr. photo
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