The Tools Of Government

To the Editor:

The Charter Revision Commission has completed its primary task of reviewing the Newtown charter and preparing a draft report of recommended changes and a proposed new charter, which incorporates these changes. They have been submitted to the Legislative Council for their review. (Copies of these reports are available at the town clerk’s office.)

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve on this commission. Since our inception in October of last year, we have been meeting regularly on a weekly basis and the attendance of members has been nearly 100 percent at most meetings. My fellow members have contributed much insight, creativity, and professionalism to our sessions. Our chairman Bill Sheluck has demonstrated outstanding leadership, fairness, and organizational skills, which helped us to complete the daunting task of fitting the pieces in our endeavor to structure the best form of government for Newtown. I feel confident that we have accomplished this. It is now up to the Legislative Council and ultimately the citizens of Newtown to decide if our recommendations will improve the process of governing our town.

Although the charter is just a template for government, its importance should not be diminished. While it is true that it is the people in government positions that have the greatest impact on the quality of services you receive for your tax dollars, one must not ignore the role that a well conceived and intelligently structured charter has in helping to provide the best government possible. Even the most highly motivated and competent individuals will be unable to provide optimum government service unless they have the proper tools and foundations.

Much research and many hours of deliberations went into the formulation of our draft report of recommended changes. We had no ax to grind, no favors to return, and no preconceived agenda. We analyzed our present charter and the way in which it guides our branches of government. Then, using what we gleaned from much research, many interviews with officials from Newtown and other towns, and in-depth examination of other towns’ charters, we formulated our recommendations for change. All of the charges given to us by the Legislative Council were addressed, and many formed a part of our final report. We did this in every respect with a blind eye toward the personalities and present relationships among current town officials. Our goal was to create a document that would efficiently and economically serve the needs of our town, not just now, but for many years to come. This was the most objective approach to take and it was the right approach.

I would like to thank those who attended our public hearing last week for their kind words of gratitude and support for the work of our commission. I also thank them for their suggestions and input, all of which were carefully considered before our report was finalized.

It was unfortunate that a Legislative Council member attending this hearing demonstrated less than an open mind to our report. It is even more unfortunate that she had to use the phrase “Hitler power” when referring to our recommended changes regarding the office of the first selectman. This comment was used by another citizen in attendance, but we should expect more from our elected representatives than that kind of unnecessary inflammatory rhetoric. She also stated that she did not have enough time to read the document completely and then went on to say that she disagreed with “virtually every sentence” in the proposal!

I sincerely hope that the Legislative Council will give this report more serious and focused attention than did this one council member, and I urge every citizen of Newtown to impress on their representatives the need to approach this revised charter with a critical but open mind. The only litmus test should be whether or not these changes are good for Newtown.

George J. Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                             June 1, 2001