TORRINGTON CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
The charter revision Commission is recommending certain changes to the City's Charter. Those changes are represented by four questions that will be on the ballot for the November 4th municipal election. The questions have been authorized by the City's Board of Councilmen.
These pages contain information about those questions. Following are the four questions with a short statement of purpose. Subsequent pages provide the full text of the proposed changes. To view the full text of changes, please click here.
1 .Shall there be a Charter amendment to create a Department of Finance?
Purpose: To consolidate the financial operation of the City under one department with several divisions, including treasurer, assessments, tax collection, comptroller, and purchasing. To provide greater flexibility over the City's financial operations by allowing for the consolidation of various departments to more efficiently oversee the City's finances.
2. Shall there be a Charter amendment to raise the threshold for competitive bidding from $3,000 to $10,000, to eliminate the requirement of the bid bond and to provide for the solicitation of bids and purchases by electronic or other appropriate means?
Purpose: To make purchasing supplies and services less costly and more efficient. At $3,000 many purchases must go out to competitive bid. This is costly and time consuming. Eliminating the requirement for a bid bond will provide more flexibility in the bid process and will encourage more bidders. Allowing the solicitation of bids and quotes by electronic and other means will enlarge the number of potential vendors from which the City could choose.
3. Shall there be a Charter amendment to eliminate certain appointments and positions from the Charter which are now covered by collective bargaining agreements?
Purpose: To eliminate the reference in the Charter to certain positions and appointments now covered by collective bargaining agreements: City Engineer; Superintendent of Streets; Assessor; Comptroller; Assistant Treasurer; Purchasing Agent; Building Official; and, Director of Social Services. The revision will not affect the employment of any current employee. To eliminate from the Charter certain removal powers from positions such as Director of Public Works and Building Official regarding employees and eliminate from Building Official's power that of Zoning Enforcement Officer. Make references to Personnel Department policies.
4. Shall there be a Charter amendment to make certain technical changes to the Charter?
Purpose: To renumber the sections of the Charter to conform to the proposed changes. To make the Charter gender neutral. To update and correct references to the General Statutes and other sections of the Charter.
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