TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2004
The meeting of the Charter Revision Commission was held in Room 106 of the Simsbury Town Offices. Members in attendance: Chairman Charles Howard; members Carl Eisenmann, Anita Mielert, John Ritson, Eileen Zaldonis, and Linda Schofield. Also in attendance were Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo, First Selectman Thomas E. Vincent and John Loomis Chairman of the Planning Commission along with other interested parties.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Howard called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
Mr. Eisenmann made motion to move item number 4, report from First Selectman Thomas Vincent to number one on the agenda. Ms. Zaldonis seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
REPORT FROM FIRST SELECTMAN
Mr. Vincent said the Commission should have his memo called “Recommended Scope and Review” for the Charter Revision Commission. These recommendations were done by a three step process involving review by staff, sub-committee of the Board of Selectmen and ultimately by the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Vincent said the possible revisions deal with fundamental structure of the form of government and to straighten out some inconsistencies in the Charter. The requested areas for review are: form of government, and who is a salaried employee of the Town of Simsbury. The Town of Simsbury retains the First Selectman, Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance form of government.
Mr. Vincent said the First Selectman is an elected full time chief elected officer overseeing the workforce of approximately 150 employees, an operating budget of 14 million dollars and various capital projects. The First Selectman has very little formal authority. The Board of Finance must approve all finances. Mr. Vincent said legislative issues as resolved by the Board of Selectmen and the Special Town Meetings are dictated by the Charter.
Mr. Vincent said the Town retains approximately 35 Boards and Commissions. Department Heads from Finance, Police Chief, and Director of Parks and Recreations report to these Commissions as well as the First Selectman.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Page 2:
Mr. Vincent said a Town Manager does not supplant the role of First Selectman or Chairperson of the Town Council. He is in every way accountable to the appointed authority. The Town Manager is an Administrator who performs various functions and implements the decisions of the Legislative body.
Mr. Vincent said the First Selectman governs with assistance of a dedicated team of local governmental professionals to supplement any lack of technical expertise.
Mr. Vincent said the form of government issue is the most fundamental decision this Commission must make. He asked what goals would a change in government enable us to obtain that we are unable to obtain under the current structure. He hasn’t come up with goals that we cannot presently obtain.
Mr. Vincent said he feels a two year term of office is too short and a six year term is too long. He feels that the term for First Selectman should be four years.
Mr. Vincent said he feels the current structure of the Planning Commission and Zoning Commissions is appropriate for Simsbury. There is a deep well of talent in both Commissions. Both Commissions have separate jurisdictions.
Mr. Vincent said certain items should be addressed under miscellaneous, either word changes, etc.:
Section 301 b8 Board of Tax Review is now Board of Assessment and Appeals
Section 402 Personnel Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee of the Board of Selectmen should be the Personnel Sub-Committee now
The Regional Affairs Committee has not existed for many years
Section 502 and 909 Should be merged together as they deal with the same subject matter
Section 506 - there may be some inconsistencies with the State Laws
Section 603 entitled appointments and terms may have inconsistencies with the law also
Section 709 Human Relations Commission hasn’t meant in a very long time and should be
looked in to
Section 716 The Jury Committee is no longer in existence
Section 801 and 804 - the Board of Selectmen July 22 memo shows the concerns and inconsistencies
Mr. Vincent said there are several recommendations to the budget making process in Sections 907, 909, and 506. The Public Hearing and Annual meetings may be duplicates.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Page 3:
Mr. Vincent said in Section 506 stating capital projects in access of 3% must be sent to referendum for approval. This needs to be reviewed as well, possibly to raise to 5%.
Mr. Vincent said the Town Charter has served this community well with it’s systems of checks and balances.
Mr. Howard asked for a copy of the written comments of First Selectman Vincent to be given to the Commission.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
There were no public audience comments at this time.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Eileen Zaldonis moved to approve the minutes of October 18, 2004. Mr. Eisenmann seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Eisenmann moved to approve the minutes of November 10, 2004. Ms. Mielert seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Ms. Mielert noted that the 11/29/04 meeting should say “NOTES” not meeting minutes.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REPORTS
Mr. Howard handed out copies of letters received from Austin Barney, Zoning Commission, Emil Dahlquist, Design Review Board Chairman, and John Loomis Planning Commission Chairman. (as attached).
Mr. Howard also said he e-mailed everyone on the Commission a copy of Brandon Robertson’s e-mail with drafts of the plan of development.
Mr. Loomis said he reported to the Board of Directors on December 13th comparing the 2004 draft work to date from the 1994 plan on Economic Development and Land Use. The Planning Commission is still awaiting information for all Commissions and Boards for their drafts.
Mr. Howard asked Mr. Loomis about his thoughts on Planning and Zoning being combined or left separate. Mr. Howard said there will be another public hearing.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Page 4:
Mr. Loomis said Planning Commission is guiding the future development and coordinating the
development. They do this all for the welfare of the Town and the residents. Mr. Loomis then went through his charts.
Mr. Loomis said a separate Planning Commission is a role by definition as they think forward and beyond the zoning regulations. Zoning works with a different perspective. They both have a great pool of talent. Mr. Loomis likes a six year term even though a four year term is doable. These terms should also be staggered.
REPORT FROM TOWN ATTORNEY
Attorney. DeCrescenzo handed out information on Boards, Commissions, and Committees; FOI references; case law regarding separate budget votes and Charter requirements to publish ordinances.
Attorney DeCrescenzo said Chapter 9 Finance and Taxation should be looked at because it is very vague and important. The fiscal year is July 1st to June 30th. Budget preparation 902 through the next seven or eight sections is the budget calendar. The First Selectman requires each Town Department Agency and Office a program of services to be accomplished.
Attorney DeCrescenzo said in Section 907 to Board of Finance must hold on Public Hearing by April 8th and in 909 there is an annual budget meeting. Mr. Howard said that Section 907 and 909 are what is at issue.
Ms. Mielert said residents should be involved in the process from the beginning. This section is the most important section to be looked in to . Ms. Mielert said the Public Hearing should give the full explanation of the operating and capital budgets. Then the public should be heard on these items. The Charter should be written so the public is more involved in the budget process.
PUBLIC HEARING
Mr. Howard said the next Public Hearing cannot be held on January 10 because it is a Board of Selectmen’s meeting date. After discussion, Mr. Howard will ask Brandon Robertson to check January 19th for the next Public Hearing in the Main Meeting Room at 7:30 pm. This would be a two hour meeting limit with a 5 minute limit per person.
The subjects for this Public Hearing are forms of government, length of term, Planning and Zoning, the Budget. Mr. Howard will note the date of the Public Hearing in his interview on Simsbury CATV tomorrow. Ms. Zaldonis and Ms. Schofield will form a press release for the Hartford Courant. Mr. Howard would also like the hearing televised on SCTV. Mr. Howard
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
AMENDED REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Page 5:
will also make an announcement at the January 10th Board of Selectman meeting.
Mr. Howard asked that Attorney DeCrescenzo, Carl Eisenmann, Linda Schofield and John Ritson form a sub-committee to go over technical issues.
Ms. Mielert would like the Charter to make sure the Planning Commission is involved with long range planning of the Board of Education.
MEETING DATES
The meeting dates are as follows: January 3rd and 25th; a Public Hearing for January 19th; February 7th, 16th, and 23rd; March 7th and 21st; April 4th and 18th; May 2nd and 16th; June 6th and 20th, July 11th and 18th, August 1st and 15th, September 7th, and 19th; October 3rd and 17th; and November 7th.
Mr. Howard said he would try to get the Board of Finance at the January 3rd meeting. Mr. Howard would also like a section by section review of the Charter. Ms. Mielert will be put on the agenda for Educational planning also.
SCTV INTERVIEW
Mr. Howard said he has an interview with SCTV tomorrow. He will note the Public Hearing date in that interview.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Schofield made motion to adjourn at 9:45 p.m. Mr. Ritson seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio
Clerk
| 
