Charter Revision Commission Meeting
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Present: Joseph Amend, Sharon Scaramella, Richard Murphy (chair), Susan Malecky, Dorothy DiPiro, Brian Gouin
Absent: Carl Fitzgibbons
Others: Attorney Steve Mednick

1. Chairman Call Meeting to Order
Chairman Murphy called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm

2. Accept Agenda
There was a motion to accept the agenda by Joseph Amend, seconded by Susan Malecky.Vote unanimous, motion carried.

3. Accept Minutes
The minutes of June 26, 2007 are amended to read as follows:

#2 Accept Agenda: Chairman Murphy called for a motion to accept the agenda, seconded by Joseph Amend. Vote unanimous, motion carried.
#3 Accept Minutes: Chairman Murphy called for a motion to accept the minutes of the June 19, 2007 meeting, seconded by Joseph Amend. Vote unanimous, motion carried.
#7 Adjourn: Chairman Murphy called for a motion, seconded by Carl Fitzgibbons to adjourn the meeting. Vote unanimous, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.

Joseph Amend made a motion to accept the minutes of the 6-26-07 meeting as amended, seconded by Susan Malecky. Vote unanimous, motion carried.

4. Public Comment: none

5. Other Business: none

6. Discuss / Review Charter (ongoing)
Attorney Mednick reviewed for Commission members his recommendations for changes in the Charter.

Recommendation: remove the word 'agency' from the definition of Board or Town Board.
Commission members agreed to this revision. The definition of Board or Town Board is revised to read as follows:
Board or Town Board shall mean any Board, Commission, Committee, Authority or similar body of the Town, whether elected or appointed.

Recommendation: Section 2-4: remove Chief Officer of the Town and replace with First Selectman. Commission members agreed to this revision. The last paragraph of this section is revised to read as follows:
The powers conferred and the duties imposed with reference to the same upon any such Board or Department shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, hereafter be exercised and discharged by the First Selectman.

Recommendation: change the definition of Town Officer. Commission members agreed to this revision. The definition of Town Officer is revised to read as follows:
Town Officer shall mean elected officials as set forth in this Charter.

[Brian Gouin joined the meeting at 7:00 pm]

Commission members discussed section 3-1.1: this section will be revised to read as follows:
'The legislative powers of the Town shall be vested in the Board of Selectmen as specified in Chapter 8 of this Charter. Specified legislative authority is also granted to Special Town Meetings or Referendums, as provided by this Charter.'

There was discussion regarding the annual town meeting and section 8-2.3. This section will be revisited at the next meeting.

Commission members discussed Section 3-2 and made the following changes:
The heading will be 'Special Town Meetings.'

Section 3-2 will read as follows:
Special Town Meetings shall be called by the Board of Selectmen as provided in this Chapter and in the manner provided by C.G.S., as amended.

Sections 3-2.1 and 3-2.2 are removed from the Charter.

Commission members discussed the town referendum and the budgets that can be voted on in this referendum. Chairman Murphy will meet with the Finance Director to get a clearer definition of all budgets. Once this information is received, this discussion will be revisited.

Chairman Murphy recessed the meeting at 8:20 pm. The meeting was reconvened at 8:30 pm.

Attorney Mednick made a recommendation for section 4-1: Commission members agreed with his opinion and this section will be revised to read as follows:
The General Fund Budget is a summary of estimated or intended expenditures for the Fiscal Year, along with proposals for financing such expenditures. It shall be adopted annually as set forth in this charter for the forthcoming Fiscal Year, a 12-month period beginning on July 1st and ending on June 30th of the following calendar year. The General Fund Budget is presented for approval at Referendum, as described in this chapter, and consists of the following budgets:

a) The Board of Education Budget [including…]

b) The General Government Budget [including …]

Subsections a) and b) above will be revised once budget terms are defined.
Section 4-2: No changes
Section 4-3: No changes

7. Adjourn
There was a motion to adjourn the meeting by Joseph Amend, seconded by Brian Gouin. Vote unanimous, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Laura Siena
Board Clerk