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Share Your Ideas On Local Government

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Share Your Ideas

On Local Government

An Open Letter to the People of Newtown:

The Charter Revision Commission has been entrusted with the duty of reviewing the Town Charter and recommending changes to the Legislative Council. To begin this process, the Commission invites all members of the public to a Public Hearing at the Middle School Auditorium at 8 pm, on Thursday, November 30.

It is obvious to all of the citizens of Newtown that our town is growing rapidly. Some of the issues we face today, such as the purchase of Fairfield Hills and the construction of a new school, are clear indications of this trend. Accordingly, we need a form of town government that will be able to address these and other matters in an effective manner.

In this light, some of the topics we will be discussing concern the form of the executive branch of government, i.e., the first selectman and the Board of Selectman. For example, how should the responsibilities be divided between these respective parties or should we dispense with the Board of Selectman and grant greater powers to the first selectman?

Other issues concern the kind of legislative body that will represent the people of Newtown. Clearly, a change in the nature of the Board of Selectman would have implications for the structure of our legislative body. Should the current Legislative Council assume some or all of the Board of Selectman’s powers if we eliminated that entity? Also, should we transfer the finance-related powers from the Legislative Council to a Board of Finance?

In addition, what is the future for the Town Meeting concept? Should we continue this practice or go to a referendum  for any interim decisions?

These are just some of the questions we will be addressing in our deliberations. Clearly, it would be desirable for this commission to receive input from the people of Newtown. Your suggestions regarding the answers to these and other questions that will arise during this process can only improve the final outcome.

We hope that you will attend this hearing and our regular weekly meetings to share your thoughts with us on the type of government that we all believe will work best for Newtown.

See you there.

Sincerely,

William Sheluck, Jr

Chairman, Charter Revision Commission

36 Greenleaf Farms Road, Newtown                   November 21, 2000

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