ANSWERS TO THE LWV QUESTIONS TO BE POSTED OCTOBER 21st
FIRST SELECTMAN,COMING: WestonLWV VOTERS GUIDE BIO-ANSWERS BY BOARD OR COMMISSION - in time for review for Westonites on the run!
SELECTMEN,
FINANCE,
EDUCATION,
POLICE,
PLANNING & ZONING,
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS and
ZBA ALTERNATE,
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
FIRST SELECTMAN: Two-year term.
The First Selectman is the chief
executive officer of the town, presides over the Board of Selectmen, and is an
ex-officio member of all other boards and agencies.
This is a salaried
position.
SELECTMEN: Two-year term.
The Board of Selectmen consists of
the First Selectman and two Selectmen.
The Board has certain financial powers
and may pass ordinances. It hires town employees at the department head level,
other than those of the Board of Education. It appoints officers of the Town
and members of appointive boards and commissions, coordinates town agencies,
administers the road program, and supervises the spending of all appropriations
except those for the school system.
BOARD OF FINANCE:
Four-year term. Please note that candidates appointed to fill vacancies
must run at the next local election ("2 year term").
The seven-member Board of Finance reviews budgetary requests from all town boards. It conducts preliminary budget hearings in the early spring before approving or reducing those requests. The board then submits the proposed town budget to the Annual Town Budget Meeting for its approval. The Board may also be called upon to approve or reject supplementary or extraordinary appropriations, according to the limits set forth in the charter. Under the recently revised Charter, its powers have increased due to mandatory Referendum and it, the Board of Finance’s, role in reconsideration following any rejection of any part of the budget at Referendum.
BOARD OF EDUCATION: Four-year term. Please note that candidates appointed to fill vacancies must run at the next local election ("2 year term").
The seven-member Board of Education
is responsible, by state law, for the education program, school facilities and
transportation, school staff, and professional personnel.
What, if anything, do you want to see brought to future
schools planning and how, if at all, do you envision it coordinating
with Town facilities planning and/or the work of other town boards,
committees and commissions?
CONTESTED
POLICE COMMISSION: Four-year term. Vote for any three.
The seven-member Police Commission
is responsible for the management and supervision of the Weston Police Department.
The Commission serves as the traffic authority and as liaison between the
public and the Police Department.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION: Four-year term.
The seven-member Planning and
Zoning Commission has two legislative functions. The planning function includes
subdivision administration, master plan development, approval of public
improvement projects, and, with the Selectmen, optional development of a
capital budget. Through zoning, the commission regulates land use, population
density, and building size. It hears and decides special permit applications.
CONTESTED
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: Four-year term. Vote for any three.
The five-member ZBA is a
quasi-judicial board that is empowered to hear zoning appeals and grant variances
to zoning regulations in cases of hardship. The three Zoning Board of Appeals
alternates are called to act in the absence of ZBA members.
What considerations are involved in approving a zoning variance?
And the considerations in appeal of action by the Code Enforcement
Office? Are there other actions you think Z.B.A. should be taking?
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS ALTERNATE: Four-year term. Vote for one.
The five-member ZBA is a
quasi-judicial board that is empowered to hear zoning appeals and grant
variances to zoning regulations in cases of hardship. The three Zoning Board of
Appeals alternates are called to act in the absence of ZBA members.
CONTESTED
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS: Four-year term.
The Board of Assessment Appeals
serves as an appeal body for taxpayers who believe that Town assessors erred in
the valuation of their properties, or erroneously denied them exemptions. The Board is a review body, not an assessing
agency, and it does not value taxable property; that is the function of the
assessors. The Board is the first level
of appeal from the actions of the assessors.
