Charter Panel To Consider Town Planner

By John Voket

Next Tuesday the Charter Revision Commission will once again open its doors, inviting First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker in to discuss possibly adding a position of town planner to the revised charter proposal. The idea of perhaps separating the positions of planner from the community development responsibilities Ms Stocker currently handles was initiated by Charter Commissioner Joan Plouffe.

Ms Plouffe finalized draft language to possibly put forth as an addition to the charter sometime in November, and requested the provision be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. William O’Neill, the chairman of Newtown’s P&Z, responded in early December, saying he received little feedback from his fellow commissioners, adding: “As you know I am very in favor of a full-time town planner with a broad role.”

Ms Plouffe subsequently wrote in an email to The Bee that she wants to hear what Ms Stocker has to say, as well as solicit the thoughts of the rest of her commission before possibly incorporating suggested modifications to her draft suggested by Mr O’Neill, or making any other changes.

“The crux of the proposal is really long-range strategic planning for the town,” Ms Plouffe wrote. “In discussing this preliminarily with Bill O’Neill some time ago, it was his thought that a long-term strategic plan would not be effective without someone to effectuate it. I tend to agree with him, which is why the town planner became an integral part of the proposal.”

Ms Plouffe’s proposal would have the first selectman, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Legislative Council, appointing a full time town planner to an indefinite term. The Board of Selectmen, with the support of the Legislative Council, would choose a fully certified and experienced town planner.

Currently, Ms Stocker serves Newtown as a certified planner, but spends about 20 percent of her time supporting the Economic Development Commission (EDC). That volunteer appointed commission is the development organization for the Newtown Tech park proposed for the area adjacent to, and east of, Commerce Road.

The idea of creating a completely separate planner in addition to a community development professional would likely be welcomed by the EDC. At its recent presentation to the selectmen during budget deliberations, chairman Chet Hopper said he wanted to see Ms Stocker spending more time assisting with marketing the tech park.

The EDC also requested $25,000 be added to its budget to hire one or more consultants as the organization ramps up its efforts marketing the tech park. With the balance of Ms Stocker’s duties being devoted to the planning department, Mr Hopper did not think the EDC should have to add more to her workload, especially with any duties outside her range of expertise.

“Normally a developer would have an entire staff working on marketing and designing a tech park of this size, but we’re going to do it with volunteers and 20 percent of Liz’s time,” Mr Hopper told the selectmen.

Ms Plouffe’s draft suggests the town planner shall perform professional duties in connection with studies and recommendations relating to the physical development of the town. “He or she shall work with and solicit input from all boards, committees and commissions to further that goal, and shall further coordinate and implement a long-range plan review and implementation process, with the assistance of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, Board of Finance and Legislative Council where necessary,” the proposal states.

The charter commissioner, who is an attorney, also envisions a town planner as the chairperson of a long-range strategic planning committee.

“Such committee membership shall be made up of representatives of various boards, committees and commissions in town,” the draft says, adding that at a minimum the membership of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee shall include a member each of P&Z, Legislative Council, Board of Finance, Board of Education, Board of Selectmen, the Fairfield Hills Authority, the Economic Development Commission, the Inland Wetlands Commission, the Conservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission.”

The draft goes on to say: “The Long Range Strategic Planning Committee shall employ the use of the Plan of Conservation and Development as a planning tool and shall cause the [Plan of Conservation and Development] to be reviewed and updated annually, not later than November 15. All town agencies, boards, committees and commissions must assist in the annual update of the [Plan of Conservation and Development] and provide any and all information in a timely manner, per the request of the town planner.”

The proposal concludes: “The town planner shall consult with and assist the Legislative Council on the annual update of the town’s [capital improvement plan]. The annual update of the CIP shall consider and utilize the [Long Range Strategic Planning Committee] recommendations and [Plan of Conservation and Development] as planning tools. The [Long Range Strategic Planning Committee] shall meet at least quarterly. The frequency of such meetings shall otherwise be at the discretion of the Town Planner.”

Mr O’Neill made provided several suggestions to the draft, which Ms Plouffe said she is considering.

Those changes included: eliminating any reference to the director of community development since the position is identified as a full-time town planner.

“I think the Long Range Planning committee needs to be limited in size to be effective,” Mr O’Neill wrote. “I would eliminate some of the proposed required slots and make the membership a little more general.”

Mr O’Neill was not sure all the qualifications stated for the position should be included, other than the person be a professional experienced planner and have whatever certificates are normally obtained by a professional town planner.

“I believe only one group can be responsible for hiring an individual, not three groups,” Mr O’Neill added.

In other business, the Charter Commission is expected to revisit terms of service for some of the town’s leading officials. This has been a matter of some contention, as proposals for four-year terms for the Boards of Finance and Selectmen and the Legislative Council were already rejected.

A request was made to reopen the subject of terms of office after several Charter Revision Commission meetings focused on proposals to expand the Board of Education while shortening its members’ terms to two years, and electing school board representatives by district, similar to the Council.

The Charter Revision Commission is scheduled to meet at Edmond Town Hall February 13 at 7 pm.