Most of the information that citizens use concerning Greenwich, Connecticut policy and politics comes from the local media outlets. This forum endeavours to provide a more complete set of viewpoints on current issues in town. The authors are local residents who hope to provide insight into how decisions made in the town will affect all of its citizens. Others are welcome to comment. The only rules are no personal attacks on anyone and back up your opinion with verifiable facts.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Pandora's Box

First Selectman Jim Lash has opined that he may convene a charter revision commission to revive the creation of a chartered Town Administrator position in Greenwich. As our local charter does not enumerate anything concerning charter revision commissions, the Connecticut General Statutes prevail. The statutes (§7-190) have the details of how such a commission is formed, and how the members are appointed. In any case, the members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen, and are tasked by them. However, in §7-190(b), the statute continues also says, "The commission may also consider other items for inclusion in the proposed charter, other changes to the charter or home rule ordinance and such other items as it deems desirable or necessary." While the Board of Selectmen may charge the charter revision commission with a single task, to create a Town Administrator position, the commission may also make other recommendations. This may have some unintended consequences beyond what the Board of Selectmen envisioned.

Additionally, Mr. Lash stated that Mr. Fox, the Town's legal counsel, has determined that such a commission would not remove the ability of the RTM or the BET to continue to alter the Town's charter in the manner it has in the recent past. On the GCTV program "The Word in Greenwich: Time for a Change", Tom Byrne, Moderator of the RTM, stated that Mr. Fox believed such a commission would remove the RTM and BET's ability to change the charter. So which is it? Why has Mr. Fox's opinion changed?

Lastly, an editorial in the Greenwich Time stated "... there is a lot to be said for leaving charter changes to the voters ..." The editorial went on to state that elections for the RTM are not competitive, and the members of the BET are effectively appointed by the two political party committees, the Democratic Town Committee and the Republican Town Committee. One could also add the Board of Education to the above list. But rather than changing the charter to make the elections more competitive, it would be more effective to explain to the citizens of Greenwich that any elector can place themselves on the ballot for any of the above elected positions. A candidate need not be nominated by either political town committee, but by petition of electors. Perhaps if more citizens understood how their town government is nominated and elected, the question of competition would be a moot point.

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