Rosenthal Starts The Search For Finance Board Members

By Steve Bigham

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal this week began making a list of potential candidates for the soon-to-be-created Board of Finance.

Voters last week approved the creation of a Board of Finance, which, according to state law, must now be incorporated into the town charter by early December. With no time to hold an election, the task of appointing six members goes to Mr Rosenthal, who would then need the approval of the Board of Selectmen.

This week, Mr Rosenthal said he planned to appoint six members as soon as possible, but added that he had more than 30 days to do so. According to the state statute, all the changes to the charter must take effect within 30 days, but the provision for filling vacancies gives the selectmen 60 days to fill them.

“We’ll try to fill them as quickly as possible, but there is time to look for some good people and interview them,” Mr Rosenthal said. “It won’t take that long, but it’s not that urgent. There is nothing for the Board of Finance to do any way. It won’t get the budget until February 21.”

The Board of Selectmen must still come up with a process for choosing the best six people for the job.

“I plan to go with three Democrats and three Republicans. We want to try and to make it a non-partisan board, initially,” Mr Rosenthal said.

The newly approved provisions for the Board of Finance state that no more than four members from one party can serve at one time.

“I think there are some good people to choose from. I’m confident we’ll find six good people,” the first selectman said.

There has been speculation that some highly qualified members of the Legislative Council might choose to serve on the Board of Finance. Mr Rosenthal said, however, that none have come forward at this point.

Legislative Council Chairman Don Studley would be a top candidate for the Board of Finance. For now, however, he says he is sticking with the council.

“Right now, I can best serve the town on the Legislative Council, and again I see the financial authority of the council continuing to be a very important part of the government.”