Charter Commission Elects John Godin Chair, Sets July 25 Hearing

By John Voket

Newtown’s latest Charter Revision Commission has been seated, and on July 16 its nine members elected former Charter Commissioner John Godin as its chairman. Former acting State Department of Education Commissioner George Coleman was subsequently nominated by Mr Godin for the vice-chair position and was unanimously endorsed during the brief meeting Monday at the Municipal Center.

In nominating Dr Cole, Mr Godin said he anticipated “a lot of spirited conversation from education (supporters).”

“If you can lead the State Department of Education, I’d certainly like to have your perspective,” Mr Godin said before Dr Coleman accepted the post.

The only other business on the agenda was to set a date for the commission’s first of two public hearings, which will occur at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 25. The next commission meeting will commence upon the close of the hearing, Mr Godin said.

By the time the commissioners convene again, it is expected that they will all be provided with a complete file of research and findings from the previous charter commission which met in 2010. That panel’s recommendation of ballot questions failed at referendum in early 2011 because of a shortfall in voter turnout to codify the recommended charter change at that time.

The new commission will also revisit and possibly recommend bifurcating or splitting the town budget referendum so taxpayers and qualified voters can cast separate votes on the town and school budgets separately. It also appeared during Monday’s meeting that the panel could manage a quorum to schedule a meeting at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 7. But that meeting date was not formalized.

Legislative Council Chairman Jeff Capeci was on hand to handle the official duties of chairing the commission’s first meeting until Mr Godin was elected chair upon the nomination of Robert Hall and George “Nick” Schmidt. Mr Godin then asked that a group of town officials be asked to attend the public hearing or subsequent meeting so the panel could also hear opinions or input from them on the panel’s charge.

Mr Capeci or council Vice Chair Mary Ann Jacob, First Selectman Pat Llodra, Board of Finance Chair John Kortze, Board of Education Chair Debbie Leidlein or Vice Chair Laura Roche were requested to be on hand. Also, Democratic council members Dan Honan or Paul Lundquist, Independent finance board member Carol Walsh, Democratic school board member John Vouros and Town Finance Director Robert Tait were asked to attend the July 25 session.

Mr Godin said any other local officials who wanted to offer comments and suggestions along with citizens, would be welcome at the earlier hearing, and could also offer input during the public portion of the later meeting. The new commission is on a fast-track to complete its work so revision questions can be filed on the November Presidential Election ballot.

In order for that to happen, the commission must make its final recommendations to the council by August 20. For that reason, Mr Godin expects to hold at least two regular meetings during each of the first two weeks of August.

The commission’s four-point charge specifically asks its members to consider splitting or “bifurcating” the budget between the town and school district; to include questions regarding whether a negative vote on each part of the budget is because it is too low or too high; a ballot containing a check box to approve the budget along with boxes to indicate whether the budget is being rejected because it is too low or too high; or any reasonable combination of those considerations.