SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHARTER REVISION
Appointed June 2, 20110
Ken Edgar, Dennis Tracey, Woody Bliss, Arne DeKeijzer, Nina Daniel, Dick Bochinski, Susan Moch

CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE:



Drafting Session #2 Feb. 8, 2012, 7:30-9:45pm, Town Hall Commission Room.
Moving to the Commission Room for the February 8th meeting, the Charter Revision Commission decided to have the weekend meetings for drafting in the Commission Room - 1pm on Saturday (did not take place after all) and 11:30 on Sunday (Feb. 11 & 12) - CANCELED.  Observer Corps notes that there are still issues that have not been resolved by consensus.


Co-Chair will be at Speak Up
Drafting Session #1 Feb. 1, 2012, 7:30-9:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room.

These sessions are not being televised.  It was suggested that the Commission was within its rights to do"drafting" in executive session.  But this Commission would not do that - but no paper copy would be circulated to any member of the public, as this document is still not considered FOI discoverable. 

However, those in the League who attended all sessions of the 2003 Charter Revision Commission (minor revisions), which met in open session, and have been using the 1979 Charter for dozens of years, find that with the guidance from the Commission (for example - "Article 1 is old article 2" or vice versa) - it is easy to follow.

Schedule for futute drafting sessions:

Feb.8 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Commission Room
Feb. 11 Saturday at 1pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 12 Sunday at 11am, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 15 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 29 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
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Tentative Public Hearing March 21, a Wednesday (televised)

ANOTHER MEETING, THIS TIME A SPECIAL (TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012) COVERS ARTICAL EIGHT AGAIN:
Link to draft agenda here.


JANUARY 4, 2012 meeting goes over Article 8, the budget process.  League members in observance.  Agreement on movingend date to first week in May - this for ATBM.   Referendum and exactly how it might work discussed.  What is a quorum for ATBM?  Should there be one?


7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
AGENDA FOR THE DECEMBER 21 MEETING OF THE WESTON CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
Item 1 – Approval of the Minutes of the December 7 Meeting/done
Item 2 – David Coprio, Chair, Building Board of Appeals, appeared before the Commission;  Charter as it relates to the Building Board of Appeals - informed Commission of the job of the B.B.A..
Item 3 – Conceptual discussion of the annual budget process. The Commission discussed the following questions regarding the budget.  AND YOU CAN WATCH THIS MEETING ONLINE AT THE TOWN OF WESTON WEBSITE!  Next meeting this will continue.
‐ When should the Annual Town Budget Meeting (“ATBM”) be held?
‐ Should the ATBM be allowed to increase or decrease the proposed budget?
‐ Should a quorum be required in order for the ATBM to act?
‐ Should any vote on increasing or decreasing the budget at the ATBM be conducted by secret ballot?
‐ Should the budget then go to a referendum for approval?
‐ Should the referendum be mandatory or by petition only?
‐ What happens if the budget is not approved?

Item 4 – Any other business of the Commission.

Charter Revision Commission, Dec. 7, 2011, 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room

After discussion, Commission decides not to vote on any specific recommendations so far, and not to be tied to any early "decisions" until more public input is obtained. 

The history of Weston Charters and their revisions was then presented in a power point and will be up on the town website in pdf form.  Did you know that there was a mandatory referendum for a few years in between charter revisions...until the big revision in 1979 that gave power to the people to take the budget to an adjourned town meeting and machine vote either before or after ATBM?  Along the lines of 25 signatures to call a special town meeting to override the Board of Selectmen action (change to several hundred, if we recall accurately, in 2003).

WHAT IS "HOME RULE" AND IS THIS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES WITH  CHARTERS?
The subject of "Home Rule" comes up in meetings in October and November.  How does this issue relate to Charter Revision, if at all?  Click here.


Woody Bliss explains how First Selectman's powers really work.

THE WORK BEGINS AT OCTOBER 5 MEETING!  All meetings televised on Channel 79!
Early testimony came from Town Attorney Pat Sullivan.  She answered specific questions and pointed out that the Charter of 1979 works well.  Her services are available as rewrite progresses.  Then the Charter Revision Commission got to work reviewing Articles 2 and 3 ("Town Meeting" and "Board of Selectmen").  It was determined that Annual Town Budget Meeting should be separate discussion and Referendum should be considered.  It was also discussed that specificity of some recommendations by P&Z at an earlier meeting were not needed in the Charter.  It was preliminarily decided to have a definitions section.  More non-League observations here.  


Town Administrator Landry shares his thoughts...September 24, 2011
Followed by former First Selectman Woody Bliss, who advised not tinkering with those many sections of the Charter which haves worked so well for so long.

"IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT" and the converse "IF IT IS BROKE, FIX IT" - Woody Bliss hands out "CHEER FLIP SIGNS" (not pictured) with the same message.
The Charter Revision Commission interviews continued in a special Saturday morning-afternoon session...with Selectman David Muller (l) first up Saturday...after his presentation, it should be no surprise that George Guidera was elected six (6) times!  Woody Bliss, who was elected four times to the same post stepped to the mic to give his take on town government and the Charter.  From the point of view of both Board of Finance on which he served previously, as well as his business experience and recent long service as First Selectman.

Town Administrator Tom Landry and former First Selectman George Guidera (1987-1999) spoke.  David Muller had gone first and submitted written testimony as did Woody Bliss, going last, who gave us a copy, which we uploaded here.  Meeting lasted three and one-half hours. 

COMING UP
Four towns' Charters will be basic reference, altho' any others may be referenced, too (the four - Brookfield, Canton, Ridgefield and Wilton).  NEXT:  Oct. 5 Wednesday, Weston Town Attorney invited - after her testimony, work will begin in earnest.  Former First Selectman Hal Shupack provided the minutes of all 1979 Charter Revision Commission minutes to Ken Edgar and it is noted that that Commission me every week for a year.

Regular Meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room to hear from First Selectman and Board of Education Chair.
Board of Education Chair.Phil Schaefer (above), speaking for himself, says ATBM and in effect Town Meeting itself is out of date.  Both he and First Selectman Weinstein think budget process should allow for raising numbers as well as cutting budgets.  First Selectman should be part time and probably 2 year term, Weinstein says. 
SPECIAL MEETING TO LISTEN TO PLANNING AND ZONING, MINORITY SELECTMAN AND BOARD OF FINANCE:
September 17, 2011 special meeting runs from 11am to 1:25pm:  Weston FORUM will report on it and may have photographs.  Some discussion as members asked questions (more than the ones that had been sent to those invited to speak).  The questions asked of invitees not in the posted notice - but since the Town TV channel 79 recorded the q. & a., there is virtually a public record of of these in the discussion  Additional testimony from First Selectman and Chair. of the Board of Education Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Saturday at 11am other participants, T.B.A..
Now called Charter Revision Commission...
September the month for more public input plus invited input from office holder, presernt and past.

Second PUBLIC HEARING Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7:30PM, TOWN HALL:.
Six "speakers" (one written statement), two from League. NOTE:  More September meetings of Charter Revision
Commission are as follows:  17th at 11am, 22nd at 7:30pm and 24th at 11am - all in Town Hall - to interview
invited members of Boards and Commissions and previous ofice holders.

CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE MET WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011 AT 7:30PM IN  THE TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM - AGENDA (as posted on the Town website)

Public Hearing Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 7:30pm on Town TV from the Town Hall Meeting Room

First Public Hearing completed (July 19, 2011):  Read online report from non-League source here.  Three members of the seven member Charter Revision Committee are or were, members of the LWV of Weston and its Study Committee on the Charter.  Also, speakers and one who contributed a letter from the League's Committee itself participated, but noted they were not speaking for the League.


Weston FORUM covers Saturday, September 17, 2011 meeting of Charter Revision Commission, along with LWV of Weston Observer Corps.
THE WESTON FORUM REPORTS...

From left, Charter Commission members Richard Bochinski, Susan Moch, Co-Chairman Dennis Tracey, Co-Chairman Ken Edgar, Woody Bliss, Arne de Keijzer, and Nina Daniel at their Aug. 17 meeting. —Margaret Wirtenberg photo

Weston Charter Revision Commission: Working out how to work
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 11:22

At its meeting last week, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, the seven people appointed to review and revise the town charter focused on how, exactly, they are going to conduct business moving forward.  One of the first things the group did was to change its name from the Charter Revision Committee to the Charter Revision Commission in order to conform with state references to such bodies formed by municipalities.

Even though the Board of Selectmen officially formed a “Charter Revision Committee,” members did not see a need to get permission to change the name. They agreed to change any references to a “committee” in previous meeting minutes.  Co-chairman of the commission Ken Edgar then led the other members through discussions on both general and specific ways in which the group should proceed in its review of the charter.

Mr. Edgar said while the commission should look at the entire charter, “my basic philosophy is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ meaning, if in fact something is working well, it’s not necessarily a good idea to revisit it and try to make it better.”

The challenge for the commission, Mr. Edgar said, is first to determine what parts of the charter are “broken,” and then come up with ways to fix them.  He said he will be looking for several things:

    If something is out of compliance with current law
    If parts of the charter are not being administered in a way that’s consistent with the its terms
    If something is “antiquated, ambiguous, or technically incorrect”
    If someone has a “demonstrably better” idea or way of doing something

Commission member Arne de Keijzer added the commission should “pay attention to clarity” in the charter, and member Nina Daniel said the commission should also look for “what’s missing form the charter.”

Given the choice of reviewing the charter either “thematically” or article by article, Mr. Edgar recommended the latter. The sense of the meeting was this would be a much easier and more logical approach.

By proceeding one article at a time, Mr. Edgar said the commission can: look at specific language in each section, making sure it is plain and understandable to all; then look at whether it’s being “administered the way it reads;” look at ways in which other towns deal with a particular issue; garner public input on each section; and “finally, consider what items we might like to amend.”

Other topics the commission discussed included the following:.

Televising meetings

The commission ultimately decided it will televise its regular meetings and public hearing on Cablevision’s town TV station. Mr. Edgar said it seemed like “a no brainer,” since the commission wants public participation and it would be a good way to get information to more people.  Commission member Richard Bochinski suggested that if the commission were to interview town officials and employees, some might feel more comfortable if the proceedings were not televised.  The commission decided, however, all of its meetings are public, and therefore those who speak before the commission will be doing so publicly.

Whom to interview and how

Commissioners spent a good deal of time discussing whom they might want to get information from, and what the best way to do that might be.  Ideas ranged from interviewing people at regular commission meetings, interviewing them at special meetings, asking people to submit thoughts and ideas in writing, asking board and commission chairmen to submit comments or come before the commission, asking all relevant board and commission members for comments, and sending invitations to people to attend scheduled public hearings.

In the end, the commission decided on a combination of some of those ideas.

Mr. Edgar said he and Co-chairman Dennis Tracey will draft a letter inviting former and current members of the boards of selectmen, education, and finance to either come to a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7, or to submit written comments to the commission.  The group then wants to interview separately the finance and school board chairmen, current and former selectmen, the town attorneys, the town manager, tax collector, town clerk, and the registrars of voters.

The commission decided to set up, if possible, at least two special meetings for the interviews, rather than doing them during its regular bi-monthly Wednesday night meetings.

Specific jobs

Several members of the commission were assigned specific tasks.  Mr. Edgar suggested he, Mr. Tracey, and Susan Moch — all attorneys — be in charge of coming up with the draft language for any re-writes of the charter as a way of ensuring things are legally correct.

Mr. de Keijzer joked, “clarity and straightforward legalese are not necessarily the same thing.”

Ms. Daniel and Mr. de Keijzer were asked to be a “subcommittee” of sorts that will look into other town charters. They are both members of the League of Women Voters, which already has been doing its own research into other town charters and how others deal with charter revision. Mr. Edgar said as co-chairman, he will be an “ex officio” member of this subcommittee.

Public comment

The question of public comment was addressed.  Ms. Daniel suggested holding public comments until the end of each meeting to allow the commission to do its business more efficiently.  Commissioner Woody Bliss, a former first selectman, suggested instead allowing public comment after each agenda item has been discussed so comments could be weighed as issues are being considered.  All agreed that would be the best way to go forward, as long as comments were kept germane to the discussion at hand. It was noted that written comments submitted to the commission before its meetings should always be encouraged.

Public hearing

The commission’s next meeting is a public hearing, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, in the town hall meeting room.  The public is invited to share any thoughts on any portion of the charter at this time.
Weston charter revision: Selectmen choose committee
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 11:22

Seven people have been chosen to review Weston’s town charter and to make recommendations regarding possible amendments to it.

On Thursday, June 2, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint the following people to the Charter Revision Committee: Woody Bliss (Republican), Dick Bochinski (Democrat), Nina Daniel (R), Ken Edgar (D), Dennis Tracey III (R), Arne de Keijzer (D), and Susan Moch (D).

By law, the committee must have minor party representation. The selectmen said they were hoping they would be able to appoint at least one unaffiliated member to the committee, but none came forward.

In addition, a maximum of two members may hold elected office. While several candidates serve on appointed committees, only Mr. Bochinski, a member of the school board, holds elected office.

The Charter Revision Committee members have terms that expire in one year, on June 30, 2012. The selectmen have said if possible, they would like recommendations before the next budget vote in April 2012.

By law, the Board of Selectmen may not limit the scope of what can be done or offer the committee any parameters when it comes to examining the charter — the committee must decide which parts it wants to examine.

The mission with which the committee was tasked is to review the existing charter, get input from elected officials, the public, and the town administrator, and to draft any recommended amendments to the existing charter.

Even though the selectmen may not tell the committee exactly what to look at, First Selectman Gayle Weinstein said she intends to offer suggestions regarding topics she thinks it should consider, and she expects the other selectmen — as well as other members of the public — will likely do the same.

Ms. Weinstein said there are two types of issues she believes the committee should deal with.

The first are housekeeping issues, such as how the charter is organized and how certain things are worded. Many parts are outdated, she said, and some of the language may be simplified or cleaned up to increase clarity.

“The harder part” of the committee’s job, Ms. Weinstein said, is going to be to review the larger concepts and procedures spelled out in the charter and look at what may amount to major revisions. For example, the committee may address whether the Board of Selectmen should have more members and/or longer terms, or it may weigh the concept of a referendum vs. an Annual Town Budget Meeting to vote on the budget. That will take far longer to vet, Ms. Weinstein noted.

“It all needs to be looked at and discussed,” she said, “but we put together a great committee. I’m very confident in the work they can do.”

The selectmen agreed it was very difficult to narrow the field from the 10 candidates who were interviewed (two additional candidates, Hal Shupack and Amy Sanborn, withdrew their names from consideration before the second round of interviews was conducted).

“I’m so excited by the talent that applied,” Ms. Weinstein said.

Selectman David Muller said he was impressed with the wide range of views, opinions, and expertise the candidates brought with them. He said he hopes those who were not chosen will still contribute to the process.

Selectmen Dan Gilbert called those who stepped up to apply “very engaged and extraordinary people.”

Ms. Weinstein said since all of the candidates were so well qualified, she tried to look at the overall composition of the committee.

Ms. Weinstein began by recommending Ken Edgar, a Democrat, and Dennis Tracey, a Republican.

Mr. Edgar has a strong legal background and has worked on revising the DTC’s bylaws. “He is truly impressive,” she said.

Mr. Tracey, also an attorney, has worked with the town before as chairman of the appointed legal review committee, and he has been instrumental in negotiating with the town and the Nature Conservancy on a separation agreement for the Lachat property. “He’s done a fantastic job,” she said.

Dr. Gilbert recommended Republican Woody Bliss and Democrat Arne de Keijzer. Mr. Bliss is a former first selectman, and Mr. de Keijzer is chairman of the town’s Board of Ethics.

Selectman Muller said Republican Nina Daniel “deserves strong consideration... She is a very thoughtful member of the community who brings forth issues that are [important but] not political in nature.”

Mr. Muller also advocated for Democrats Dick Bochinski and Susan Moch as the final two, “even though the other three [candidates] are eminently qualified as well,” he said.

Mr. Muller praised Mr. Bochinski, who has worked on teacher negotiations as a member of the school board, as a “tough negotiator” who is able to bring people to the table and build consensus.

Ms. Moch, a town moderator, has a wry sense of humor and her “attention to the clock” and ability to work to a schedule will make her a valuable addition to the committee, Mr. Muller said.

Dr. Gilbert said he plans to reach out to the other candidates to make sure they know their input is still important, even though they were not chosen to be on the committee.

Joking with one of the candidates at the meeting, P&Z member Don Saltzman, who said he plans to stay involved and stay vocal, Mr. Muller said, “Frankly Don, I’m not sure the committee is going to know you’re not a member.”

Ms. Weinstein said earlier this week that all the members chosen for the Charter Revision Committee have been notified and have received initial packets of information, which include charters and changes to charters from other towns.

“I want them to take the opportunity to explore what others have done,” she said.

She said she is working with Ken Edgar and Dennis Tracey on some “ground rules” for the first meeting and is recommending — although the committee is free to decide for itself — that they be named co-chairmen.

The committee is expected to call its first meeting within the next month.


Immediate past Charter Revision Commission (2003)
Members agreed on a limited review:  change the time of ATBM and require more signatures to enact ordinances and "to give the board of Selectmen the discretion to reject a petition that is materially the same as a matter that previously has been voted upon by referendum.or other acts"
A  C  T  I  O  N  S :
As approved at a Special Board of Selectmens' Meeting Tuesday, September 16, 2003 at 8am in Town Hall Meeting Room...revisions made by Secretary of the State's Office for clarity.

C H A R T E R     R E V I S I O N    Q U E S T I O N S :

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Section 2.2 Annual and Special Meetings, be amended to change the Annual Town Budget Meeting starting time to 8:00pm and the ending time to 11:30pm.

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Secion 2.7 Petition for a Special Town Meeting for Enactment of Ordinances or Other Action, be amended to change the required personal signatures to not less than 5% of qualified voters.

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Section 2.7 Petition for a Special Town Meeting for Enactment of Ordinances or Other Action, be amended to give the board of Selectmen the discretion to reject a petition that is materially the same as a matter that previously has been voted upon by referendum.
What people were interested in last time (2003):

Charter Revision and the C.G.S.