City of Torrington MEETING MINUTES
2011 Charter Revision Commission May 7, 2012
Present were Chairwoman Elinor Carbone, Vice-Chairman Vic Muschell, Secretary James Steck and Commissioners Gerry Zordan, Marie Soliani, Debra Brown and Jim Thibault. Also present was Corporate Counsel Ernestine Weaver. Commissioners Jim McKenna, and Bill Battle were absent.
The City of Torrington 2011 Charter Revision Commission (the “Commission”) opened its meeting at 5:00 PM in Room 215 at City Hall, Torrington.
The Agenda for this meeting read as follows:
- Approve minutes of the April 16, 2012 meeting;
- Public Comment and Participation – (3 minutes per speaker);
- Review of Proposed Recommendations & Proposed Language;
- Discussion regarding Public Hearing 5/17/2012;
- Old Business;
- New Business;
- Adjournment
(Agenda Item #1) Approve April 16, 2012 Meeting Minutes
The April 16, 2012 meeting minutes were approved.
(Agenda Item #2) Public Comment and Participation
Margaret Keywan, a member of the Coe Park sub-committee, spoke to the Commission. She is interested in a City Charter modification to allow the Coe Park sub-committee to become autonomous, outside of the Park & Recreation Department oversight. Margaret pointed out that difficulties reporting to Park & Recreation had developed over the years since the 1996 creation of the sub-committee. Her logic is that if the Park’s support money comes from a private trust, and not from tax revenue, the sub-committee should not report through the City channel of the Park & Recreation Department. She also noted that current guidelines for fees were not being followed on a selective basis as chosen by the Park & Recreation Department. The Committee thanked Margaret for her efforts and
input and committed to considering her request.
(Agenda Item #3) Review of Proposed Recommendations & Proposed Language
Ernestine provided a draft document of the proposed City Charter changes dated May 7, 2012. Discussion ensued regarding the technical change for Board of Education vacancies on page 5 of her document. It was decided that the change represents both a technical change and a substantive change. The technical change applies to the removal of the word “electing” to clarify the Board’s vacancy appointment procedure. The substantive change applies to changing the Board of Education vacancy appointment from “until the next regular municipal election” to “the unexpired portion of the term”. This change would make the vacancy filling procedure for the Board of Education consistent with other City vacancies. Ernestine committed to provide draft suggestions
for both changes for the next Commission meeting.
(Agenda Item #4) Discussion regarding Public Hearing 5/17/2012
The second Public Hearing is scheduled for May 17, 2012, 7 PM at the City Hall auditorium. The Commission intends to finalize the Charter recommendations draft at the next Commission meeting on June 4, 2012 at 5 PM. The official presentation to the Council is scheduled for June 18, 2012, 6:30 PM at City Hall auditorium.
(Agenda Item #5) Old Business
No Discussion
(Agenda Item #6) New Business
- James Steck brought up a new potential issue pertaining to Mayoral appointments to the Board of Finance. He noted in section C13-1 the Mayor is to appoint to the Board “by the 15th day of December following his or her election”. James noted that with the Mayoral term now set at 4 years, this creates a technical problem and the wording should be revised to a general election rather than his or her election. The Committee supported this as a potential issue and Ernestine agreed to create a draft of the revised language.
- The Committee discussed the request made earlier in the meeting by Margaret Keywan. It quickly became apparent that while the issue may be worth the time and energy to review, it is more complicated than simply adding Charter language. Some Committee members did not think the request should be a Charter issue at all, but rather an Ordinance issue. Jim Thibault commented that the Committee simply did not have the time to do a thorough review and analysis and that it would be unwise to rush it. A motion was made to not pursue this issue at this time and the vote passed unanimously.
(Agenda Item #7) Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM
Respectfully submitted,
James A. Thibault
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