LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
CHARTER REVIEW CHARGE COMMITTEE
AUGUST 10, 2010 – MUNICIPAL CENTER
PRESENT: Jan Andras, Kevin Fitzgerald, Ben Spragg
ABSENT: Dan Amaral (on vacation)
The meeting was called to order at 8:20 pm.
Mr. Fitzgerald passed out a list of recommendations that he received from various residents. These suggestions were discussed as follows:
Cross Endorsement/Fusion Ballot - This is addressed by the State Statutes §9-253
“When such a candidate is nominated for the same office by more than one party, his name shall appear on each appropriate row on the voting machine ballot label …”
Enlarge number on Board of Selectmen – Do not understand why this is needed but it was raised multiple times. Apparently the perception is that 3 allows for one party to dominate the other, whereas five might not.
Elimination of districts for Council – Could end up with the majority of members from one “side” of town. Newtown is spread out and made up of Botsford, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook and Dodgingtown. Each section of the town should be represented. We considered that even though the districts required equal representation in the past due to economic differences, maintaining district representation would ensure that funding is distributed appropriately, i.e. CIP projects.
Require all recommendations of the Charter Review Commission go to voters – The committee considered that the Review Committee has the right in the current Charter to petition to have any recommendation that the Council does not approve included in a town-wide vote.
Require the Schools and Town budget to be printed in newspaper by line item – This would be extremely expensive. The budget line-by-line is available on the town website or in the Town Clerk’s office prior to voting.
Seniors over 70 qualify for 10% reduction in property tax regardless of income – This would have to be addressed by Ordinance, not Charter.
Posting of minutes on website – Newtown was posting minutes on the website long before the State made it an unfunded mandate. It was repealed to avoid a hardship on smaller towns who do not have a website and cannot afford a webmaster. Having minutes posted on our website makes things easier for both residents and town employees. Why make unnecessary laws?
Negative leases should go through budget process – This was raised multiple ties. It may be a timing issue because the Council Finance Committee is about to make a recommendation to the full Council regarding additional measures to address this by Ordinance.
No action was taken. Another meeting will be scheduled.
Jan Andras
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