CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
MAY 27, 2004

The Wethersfield Charter Revision Commission held a meeting on May 27, 2004, in the Community Center, meeting room S2. The meeting began at 7:20 p.m.

Agenda Item #1: Roll Call

The following individual(s) were present:

The following individual(s) were absent:

Agenda Item #2: Adoption of the May 18, 2004 Charter Revision Commission Meeting Minutes

Commission Member Camilliere motioned to adopt the minutes from the May 18, 2004 Charter Revision Commission Meeting. Commission Member Roberts seconded. The motion to adopt the minutes passed unanimously.

Agenda Item #3: General Comments from the Public

No public comments were heard.

Agenda Item #4: Review of Wethersfield Town Charter

1. Intern's language as incorporated into Chapters VIII and IX
2. Review of the Proposed 2004 Charter in draft form

Budget Referendum

The Commission reviewed the proposed Budget Referendum language provided by intern Rick LeBorious. Each Commission Member stated their view on the inclusion of a Budget Referendum provision in the existing charter. Much discussion ensued.

It was decided by a vote of 1 (Standish) in favor / 4 (McHugh, Roberts, Munroe, Camilliere) opposed / 1 (Healy) abstention not to include a provision for a budget referendum.

Direct Election of Mayor

The Commission reviewed the proposed language provided by intern Rick LeBorious regarding direct election of the Mayor.

It was decided unanimously by a vote of 5 (Standish, McHugh, Roberts, Munroe, Camilliere) in favor / 1 (Healy) abstention to directly elect the Mayor.

The following includes the original text from the 1994 Charter with any additions/deletions as voted upon by the Commission Members.

Sec 202 Elective Offices

At each town election, there shall be chosen a Mayor, who shall be separately elected, eight (8) nine (9) members of the Town Council and members of the Board of Education, as hereinafter provided. Two (2) Registrars of Voters shall be elected as provided by the General Statutes.

Sec 203 Terms of Office

The terms of all officers elected at the town election, except members of the Board of Education and Registrars of Voters, shall be two (2) years from the first Monday following local elections fourth Monday in November, in each odd-numbered year. In no case shall the term of any elective officer expire until the election and qualification of his successor.

Sec 204 Minority representation

At the town election, no political party shall nominate and no elector shall vote for more than five (5) six (6) members of the Council. No political party shall nominate and no elector shall vote for more members of the Board of Education than is provided for under the provisions of the General Statutes.

Sec 206 Board of education

There shall be a Board of Education of nine (9) members. Three (3) members shall serve for terms of two (2) years from the first Tuesday following local elections in November, fourth Monday of November, in each odd-numbered year, and six (6) members shall serve for terms of four (4) years from the first Tuesday following local elections in November, fourth Monday of November, in the odd-numbered year in which they are elected. Biennially, three (3) members shall be elected for terms of four (4) years, and three (3) members shall be elected for terms of two (2) years.

Sec 302 Composition

The Council shall consist of the Mayor who shall be a member and presiding official of the Council, and eight (8) nine (9) members, who shall be chosen from the town at large, at each town election, for terms of two (2) years from the first Monday following the election in November fourth Monday in November, in each odd-numbered year. The Mayor shall have one vote, but only one vote, on each matter voted upon by the Council

Sec 303 Compensation

The Mayor and members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for their just and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Sec 304 Organization

Each newly elected Council shall meet for organization in the town hall on the first Monday following the election in November, at 8:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday in November, in each odd-numbered year. The meeting shall be called to order by the Town Clerk, who shall administer the oath of office to all members, provided that in the absence of the Town Clerk, the meeting shall be called to order and the oath administered by any citizen of Wethersfield authorized by law to administer oaths. The Council shall then proceed to the election of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for the ensuing two (2) years, who may also be known, respectively, as the "Mayor" and the "Deputy Mayor", and by motion shall fix the time and place of its regular meetings, and adopt rules and procedures for the conduct of its meetings not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.

Sec 313 Removals

The Council may remove any member from any appointed board, commission, committee, or agency who serves without compensation as follows: (1) upon such member's unexcused absence from three consecutive meetings of the board, commission, committee, or agency, whether regular or special meetings, or, (2) upon such member's unexcused absence from fifty percent or more of the meetings, whether regular or special, of the board, committee, commission, or agency within a calendar year.

The Council may remove any officer or employee appointed by it, provided that such officer or employee is first served with a statement of grounds for his/her removal and given an opportunity to be heard by the Council thereon. Such hearing shall be public, if the officer or employee desires, and shall be held not less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) days after service of the grounds for removal. The decision of the Council shall be final. From the service of the statement of the grounds for the removal until final action by the Council, the officer or employee shall be ineligible to perform the duties of that office or employment but shall continue to receive salary or wages, pending such final action. No further hearing shall be required for removal if a public hearing is held at the request of such officer or employee, provided that notice of such hearing is given in accordance with Section 308 and the public, as well as the officer or employee, is given opportunity to be heard.

Sec 404 Powers

Subject to responsibility to the Council, The Manager shall supervise and control all departments and agencies of the town, except the Board of Education, the Library Board and those in charge of officers elected by the people, appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly or appointed by the Council. The Manager shall appoint and may remove, subject to the provisions of Chapter VIII of this Charter, the Tax Collector, the Assessor and all officers and employees of the departments and agencies of the town and shall have the power to transfer and reassign offices, functions and responsibilities among the various departments, officers and agencies under the Manager's jurisdiction, in the interests of orderly and efficient administration, subject to the approval of the Council.

Sec 507 Board of Assessment Appeals Board of Tax Review

There shall be a Board of Assessment Appeals Board of Tax Review, of three (3) members appointed by the Council, which shall have all the powers and duties now or hereafter conferred upon such boards by the General Statutes. One (1) member shall be appointed in each even-numbered year for a term of six (6) years, commencing July 1 of the year of appointment. Any vacancy shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Members shall receive such per diem compensation as may be provided by ordinance.

Did we discuss changing this section from 3 to 5 members?

Sec 511 Constables and Selectmen/women

There shall be seven (7) Constables and a Board of Selectmen/women consisting of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the Council for terms of two (2) years commencing July 1 of the year of appointment, provided that terms of Constables and Selectmen/women initially appointed shall be from July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1990. No more than a simple bare majority of Constables and Selectmen/women shall be of the same political party. Any vacancies shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Constables and Selectmen/women shall receive such compensation as provided by law. Constables shall have the powers and duties conferred on Constables by the General Statutes in respect to the execution of legal process. The Board of Selectmen/women shall have the powers and duties conferred on Selectmen/women by the General Statutes in respect to serving as the Board of Admissions of Electors.

Sec 603 Department of Public Works

There shall be a Department of Public Works, consisting of the Director of Public Works, who, until the Council determines otherwise, shall be the Manager; the Town Engineer; the Building Inspector; the Tree Warden; and such other employees as the Council may determine. It shall be the duty of The Department of Public Works may have such powers and duties as are generally associated with such departments including the maintenance of public property; preparation of plans for construction of public buildings and other public structures; and shall to maintain, repair, clean and remove snow from all public streets and ways; maintain and operate storm sewers and other drains; care for and maintain all town buildings, other than those in the jurisdiction of the Board of Education; prepare or supervise the preparation of plans and specifications for the construction or reconstruction of streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm sewers, drains, public buildings and other structures, but excluding school buildings, and construct or supervise the construction of the same, provided that nothing herein shall preclude the employment of engineers and architects on any such project or the appointment of citizen advisory committees on the construction of public buildings, school buildings and other structures or the use of the Department of Public Works thereon; care for parks, public grounds, including those in the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, by agreement with said Board, and grassed areas in streets, and plant and care for trees within the street line and perform all other duties of the Tree Warden; enforce the provisions of the Building Code, Zoning Ordinance and ordinances imposing on owners of property obligations to construct and maintain sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm sewers and drains; and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Council, by ordinance or by the orders of the Manager in accordance with the Manager's powers. The powers and duties relating to the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse shall be exercised by the Council. The supervision of any contract entered into for the above purpose shall be a function of the Director of Public Works. If at any time a satisfactory contract for the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse cannot be made or, having been made, cannot be properly executed, the Council shall have power to provide for the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse by the Department of Public Works without affecting the right of the town to make charges for such collection and disposal.

Sec 705 Budget hearing

There shall be a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth third Monday in April, at a place to be determined by the Council, at least five (5) days' notice of which shall be given by publication in at least one (1) two (2) newspapers which has have a general circulation in the town and the town clerk shall post in a conspicuous public place designated for the posting of public notices a copy of the notice, and shall make sufficient copies available to the general public. by posting on the town signpost. At such hearing, any resident citizen or property owner who desires it shall be entitled to be heard by the Council on the town and school budgets, and the hearing shall be recessed from day to day until all such persons have been heard.

Sec 905 Petitions as public records

Whenever, by this Charter, the filing of a petition is required, such petition shall be a public record in the office of the Town Clerk and shall be retained in accordance with the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes.

Agenda Item #5: Miscellaneous

Agenda Item #6: Adjournment

Commission Member Standish motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Dorcas McHugh
Secretary

Approved as submitted June 9, 2004