Members of the public present on June 26 noted that if not for President Failla's letter, correctly stating the start time of this meeting, they would have come too early and left (FORUM put on page one that the meeting began at 7:30pm!)...
"LWV focusing on town charter" (cut line in "Letters to the Editor" June 26, 2003 FORUM)

To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters of Weston is a non-partisan political organization whose mission it is to encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in their government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.  The league's men and women believe that informed citizens are key to effective government in a democracy.

One of the services we perform is the attendance of town meetings by the Observer Corps.  Past President Lucy Bowden attended Charter Revision Committee meeting last week.  Former First Selectwoman Helen Speck, a league members who was active in Weston until her recent move, sent a letter to the commission, which was included in the record.  At the Charter Revision Committee's public hearing on May 29, Past President Helen De Keijzer presented testimony in behalf of the league.  Before the committee concludes its work, we would like to share a few of the main points and to urge citizens to attend the committee's next meeting, on Thursday, June 26, 8pm.

The committee has been asked to focus on Town Charter section 2.7, which addresses an essential need for citizens to call into question and review important town decisions.  A clear mechanism for such citizen review is a crucial feature of our town charter.  Town legislators, i.e., eligible voters, must continue to have the power to ask that a town meeting be convened.  Too high a signature requirement may discourage voters from exercising their right to petition town government and could make the petition process ineffective.

To promote democracy and good governance, it is essential for the Charter Revision Commission to establish an appropriate balance between the right of citizens to call for a review of town government decisions and the town's need to check potential abuse of such a provision.  Safeguarding an appropriate and effective balance of power is of the utmost importance.

To encourage voter participations at Weston's Annual Town Budget Meetings, we recommended consideration of charter revisions that would foster regular use of a means of private voting as well as more flexibility for voter participation.  Our local league position urges:


The committee will meet next on Thursday, June 26, at 8pm.  We encourage citizens to attend.

KATHLEEN FAILLA
Weston League of Women Voters
President
June 23

Previously...
Statement to the Charter Revision Commission, Thursday, May 29, 2003

I am Helen de Keijzer speaking on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Weston. We thank you all for committing to the task of reviewing and recommending possible revisions of Weston’s Town Charter to the Board of Selectmen and the community.

It is our understanding that your Commission has been asked to focus, at least at the outset, on Town Charter section 2.7. Our League has not had the occasion to conduct an in-depth study of this particular section, its implications, or, of course, the implications of any potential changes in its provisions.

However, in general terms, we can say that section 2.7 (and 2.6 as well) address an essential need for citizens to call into question and review important town decisions. A clear mechanism for such a citizen review is a crucial feature of our Town Charter. Town legislators, i.e., eligible voters, must continue to have the power to ask that a town meeting be convened. To promote good government decision-making, it will be critical for your Commission to find a balance between the essential and appropriate right of citizens to call for a review of town government decisions, as, for example, because of changing circumstances, and the need of the town to check potential abuse of such a provision.

Our local League archives are full of minutes of meetings that discuss drafting of the Town Charter  and, later, Charter revision. One topic repeatedly addressed was the need to carefully and clearly define powers of the legislators and the administrators, and an important recurring theme was the concern for checks and balances. Safeguarding an appropriate and effective balance of power was considered to be of utmost importance.

The Town Charter was last revised twenty-four years ago in l979.  Since Weston’s population has increased significantly during the intervening time, and since new issues arise in any growing, changing community, an extended comprehensive review rather than a short limited one may well be appropriate at this time. Of course, as you review the charter, providing on-going opportunities for public comment will assure the best possible result.

As you begin your work, in addition to your consideration of section 2.7, the League would like you to consider two League positions of potential relevance to a more comprehensive charter revision process if you should decide to undertake or recommend one.

As some of you know, local League positions are established only after a League study and member consensus process is completed. The two positions I bring to your attention are Voter Participation in Weston Town Meetings, adopted in 2001, and Ethics in Government, adopted in 1995. We have made copies of both for your reference.

First, on the basis of our position on Voter Participation in Weston Town Meetings, we recommend consideration of charter revisions that would fostor regular use of a means of private voting as well as a more flexible opportunity for voter participation.

Our position urges:

• Regular use of “secret ballot” by paper ballot, machine, or on the internet (if permitted by the state in the future). The privacy of the ballot form of voting eliminates potential voter concerns about the opinions of others attending a Town Meeting and minimizes potential voter intimidation surrounding contentious issues.

• Providing an additional opportunity to vote, such as on the Saturday following the Town Meeting. This is a procedure used in Wilton in an effort to afford as many ‘legislators’ as possible an opportunity to vote. It accommodates the traveling business person, older citizens more comfortable going out during the day, and others simply unable to attend on the particular Town Meeting day. Such an arrangement can potentially even provide for absentee ballots though only on a limited basis.

Simply put, the League’s Voter Participation Study suggested that in the towns studied, votes taken by referendum attracted a higher percentage of town voters. Weston Town Meetings where “secret ballots” were not used typically averaged well below 10% voter participation.

It is also relevant to mention that during study discussions, we were concerned that the Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM) is required by charter to begin at 8:30 p.m. It was felt that an earlier start time would encourage increased voter participation and would also allow for the possibility of more discussion before triggering (at 11:00 p.m.) a second night of deliberations as currently required. Charter review provides an opportunity to reconsider these requirements.

The second position we wish to bring to your attention is Ethics in Government (1995).
As you will see, many of the recommendations made in this position have already been put in place. The Board of Ethics was established by resolution of the Board of Selectmen in December 1996. Perhaps it will be appropriate at this time to add this Board to Article 7: Appointive Officers, Boards and Commissions as the League of Women Voters recommended in 1965 as part of their study of the adoption of a town charter. It may also be an opportunity to state clearly the duties of the board and possibly to broaden it’s charge.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our views. We look forward to further public debate on this important project.
 

Helen de Keijzer and Lucy Bowden
co-presidents, League of Women Voters of Weston