TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
AMENDED SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 19, 2005
The Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the First Selectman’s office of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First Selectman Thomas Vincent; Selectmen John Romano, John Hampton, Moira Wertheimer and David Ryan. Others in attendance included: Brandon Robertson, Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo, Charter Revision Commission members Anita Mielert and Carl Eisenmann, and other interested parties.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Vincent called the Special Meeting, to discuss the Charter Revision Commission proposals, to order at 7:00 p.m.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Ms. Fitzpatrick, 121 Gray Pond Road, also a member of the Board of Finance, thanked the Charter Revision Commission. They had a daunting task and she really appreciates the job they did.
Ms. Fitzpatrick gave some thoughts on Section F, new Section 903, of the proposed changes. She said this would require capital improvement projects to be on the previous years’ plan before that project can be submitted to the voters for approval. She feels this doesn’t really change to present system. Ms. Fitzpatrick said that because of the escape clause anything can be done by the will of the people. That is pretty much what happens now.
Ms. Fitzpatrick said that every year the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education review and update their six year capital plan. They take into consideration existing needs reflected in the prior year plan and new needs, desires and opportunities as expressed by their departments and the community as a whole. Public input is always welcome.
Ms. Fitzpatrick said having a new requirement for the six year capital plan won’t change anything materially or make for more careful long-range planning or public awareness. The elected officials are elected to make policies with regards to budgeting and spending matters.
Ms. Fitzpatrick also has concerns with the proposed change in the automatic referendum from a 3% to 1%. The current 3% dollar value is 2.2 million dollars for the ‘05-‘06 budget. If changed to 1% it would be $735,000.
Ms. Fitzpatrick doesn’t think the voters want to participate in that small decision making. The referendum voter turn out is usually 10-12%. She feels a compromise should be made for a 2% change if necessary. However, she doesn’t think this will accomplish the stated aims of the Charter Revision Commission, she thinks it is better than 1%.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
AMENDED SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 19, 2005
Page 2:
Ms. Fitzpatrick said if 10% of the voters don’t come out to vote for the annual budget referendum, it reverts back to the old budget. She also feels the notion of escape clauses in the Charter Revision language indicates some level of discomfort with the level or lack of control of the changes they propose.
Ms. Fitzpatrick said she had some ideas for improving the capital improvement process. She also has text to support her proposals. She is also hoping that the Board of Finance and Board os Selectmen work together to refine the process to serve the entire community in a better way.
Ms. Mielert said the escape clause was viewed as an ability to take advantage of market forces, not as if you don’t like it this way you can do it another way.
Ms. Nash, 5 Merrywood, asked that the Board accept the Design Review Board for Charter status instead of making an ordinance. She feels they will have more credibility that way. She gave the Board her information on this issue.
DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGES
Mr. Romano read a memo from Selectman Mandell, who could not be at the meeting tonight. The memo was dated December 16th. Mr. Mandell said he is in favor of the Charter Revision Commission’s report. However, he would send it back to the Commission with the following comments: “There are two areas of concern that Paul Henault raised at the Public Hearing. 1) The changing of the threshold from 3% to 1% for a referendum on capital improvements and 2) a more strict timetable for keeping projects in the six year plan.”
Mr. Mandell said on the first issue, he would not have initiated such a change and would have preferred perhaps a raise to a 2% threshold. Making it too low may not be what the public wants. He has found that in the past 12 budgets that he has been involved with that the citizens of Simsbury have relied very much on the good judgement of the members of the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Mandell said that on the second issue it is his experience has been that the Board of Selectmen has done a good job of keeping projects on a time-line. Therefore, the revision is workable. He feels the Board of Education has made more changes over the years, but we Board of Selectmen did not receive any objections to the suggestion from the members of the Board of Education. Therefore, Mr. Mandell is inclined to approve the Commission’s recommendations in this area.
Mr. Mandell said he agrees with all of the other Charter Revision Commission recommendations.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 19, 2005
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There was Board discussion on all proposed changes in the Charter. Also, Mr. Vincent also went through his memo dated December 16, 2005 as attached. Mr. Hampton said he supports all of the recommendations.
Also, Attorney DeCrescenzo went through what needed to happen for the Board of Selectmen to send this report back to the Charter Revision Commission.
After discussion, Mr. Romano made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 506 on the percentage for an automatic referendum. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore, the motion passed.
Mr. Ryan made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 903 on the Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore, the motion passed.
Mr. Ryan made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 205 on vacancies of elected officials. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore, the motion passed.
After some discussion, Ms. Wertheimer made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Chapter 7 in conjunction with Section 1101 on transfers of powers. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore the motion passed.
Mr. Romano made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 301 (b), terms of office. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore, the motion passed.
Mr. Ryan made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 501 the Town Meeting. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. Four were in favor with one against. Therefore, the motion passed.
Mr. Hampton made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 603, Appointment and Terms and Section 801 in regards to the Director of Administrative Services and the recruitment process. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Ryan made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 804, title change. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. Three were in favor with two against. Therefore, the motion passed.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
AMENDED SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 19, 2005
Page 4:
Mr. Hampton made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 802 and 804 on the Library Director and Town Officers. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Hampton made motion to ask the Charter Revision Commission to revisit Section 203 for a typographical error. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Hampton made motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio
Clerk
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