Charter Revision Commission
REGULAR MEETING
of
February 23, 2006
7:30 p.m.
MINUTES
I. Call Meeting to Order
Mr. Leborious called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall, 11 Rye Street, Broad Brook, CT.
II. Attendance
Present: Richard Leborious, Chairman, Edward Filipone, Kathy Bilodeau, Ralph Saunders, John Parda, Joe Roberts
Unable to attend: Noreen Farmer (excused) Cliff Nelson (excused); Peter Nevers
III. Added Agenda Items - None
IV. Public Participation
George Butenkoff, 189 Wells Road – Mr. Butenkoff came before the Commission and stated that he felt the Planning and Zoning Commission should be an elected position as the present Commission is not responding to public input. He also felt there was not enough coordination between the Planning and Zoning Commission, Water Pollution Control Authority and Inland Wetland Conservation Commission. He was not sure how this can be accomplished. He also indicated the budget referendum should be a requirement, written in the Charter as automatic, but he felt that limiting it to two would be a bad idea. Mr. Butenkoff stated he did not feel East Windsor was ready for a Town Manager. It is something that works with bigger towns and this could create a lot of problems for East Windsor.
The timeframe of the draft charter revisions was discussed.
First Selectman, Linda Roberts came before the Commission regarding concerns expressed that not everyone has been solicited for their comments to the Charter Revision. The Commission adamantly relayed the history of efforts to reach out to all agencies in the Town and agreed that a final memo will be distributed to all department heads, boards and commissions requesting input.
V. Written Communications – None.
VI. Status of Requested Extension of Time for deadline
At the February 21, 2006 meeting the Board of Selectmen granted the deadline to April 1, 2006.
VII. Continued Review of existing Charter and potential revision(s):
Extensive discussion and revision took place to Chapters Six, Seven and Nine, a copy of the draft is attached hereto outlining those changes. Chapter Six was overhauled to incorporate all town departments. The Library was incorporated into the Charter, including a Director of Library and the question of who the Director of Libraries should report to was brought up, should he/she report to an advisory board and management trust? It was felt that if this is run as a town department, the Library Director should report as other town employees do. The Parks and Recreation Department will fall under the Public Works section and the Senior Services will fall under the Social Service section.
Chapter Seven was also discussed in detail and as indicated above, the revisions are attached in the draft. The thought process is the Town Administrator hires, the Selectmen appoint. The splitting of the Conservation Commission and Inland Wetland agency was discussed. The general consensus was that splitting the Commission could cause too many hoops for people to go through and splitting the Commission might also effect the time frame. It was felt that keeping the commission as it is, with a subcommittee for the conservation portion was the way to go.
The Commission discussed the dissolution of an appointment to a board or commission, creation of permanent boards and commission.
The Planning and Zoning Commission being elected rather than appointed was discussed. It was the consensus of those present that if this is an elected Commission, it becomes a political commission. As it is the party influence is kept out and the public is involved and adding the political layer will make it a partisan decision board.
Current section 7-22 was removed as it is covered in the newly named Intergovernmental Relations section.
VIII. Adjournment
MOTION: To adjourn at 9:15 p.m.
Made by Ms. Bilodeau, seconded by Mr. Filipone
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
Attachment One – Current draft
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