Council And Charter Panel Meet, But Fail To Resolve Differences

By Steve Bigham

The Charter Revision Commission and Legislative Council came face-to-face Wednesday night to confirm what they already had known: they disagree on how Newtown’s government should operate.

The council held out hope of reaching some sort of a compromise, offering to agree to some of the proposed charter changes, but not all. Those that it objects to are the proposed creation of a Board of Finance, a stronger first selectman (with veto power) and what council members see as an attempt by the Charter Revision Commission to “disembowel” the council.

But the charter panel was there to gain consensus and its chairman, Bill Sheluck, said any compromise would be “compromising” his board’s efforts to come up with what it feels is the best government for Newtown going forward.

The word “compromise” was given both a positive and a negative spin at the meeting, and it was juggled back and forth between the two sides. In one context, it means a method to reach agreement, something the council sought to do. In another, it means a betrayal of principles, and the Charter Revision Commission had no intention of making such a move.

“I’d like to see an effort on the part of the council to decide what it could live with so we can deliberate on that consensus,” Mr Sheluck said. “To ask us to pick one or two, otherwise nothing, then ‘no.’”

Council member Will Rodgers said he would like to avoid a petition drive (to force a referendum) at all costs and indicated he and others might be willing to bend on the veto power and would agree to the elimination of the Board of Selectmen.

“We don’t want all four and if we had to pick one [we particularly don’t like] it would be the Board of Finance,” Mr Rodgers said.

The Charter Revision Commission didn’t take the bait.

“Whether it’s a Board of Finance or whatever, that’s your decision. If that’s the decision you come up with then we’ll work with it, but we do not intend to compromise our set of recommendations,” Mr Sheluck said.

But the Charter Revision Commission chairman said that does not mean his panel will not compromise in an effort to reach consensus, acting quickly to counter council chairman Pierre Rochman’s comment that there is “clearly no willingness to compromise.”

“If you heard that comment, you’re not in the room,” Mr Sheluck said.

The council still has two more meetings to deliberate the proposed changes and is expected to take final votes on what amounts to about 27 changes. There does appear to be a majority of council members against the creation of a Board of Finance, which they say simply adds another layer of government to the administration of local affairs. However, Don Studley, a leader on the council especially in the area of finance, says he supports the “vast majority” of the proposed changes, including the Board of Finance. He believes the entire plan should be sent to the voters.

“It presents a government that is much more responsive to this growing town. A lot of us are nostalgic about the authorities of the council and other sticking points. I think the electorate is looking for a modern form of government, and I venture to think whatever gets on the ballot will pass because it’s a progressive plan,” Mr Studley said.

Council member John Kortze takes a different stance, believing the charter board’s efforts to create a balance has shifted the balance of power too far the other way.

“It’s obvious that there is a body in town that you think is too powerful [the council] and one that is not powerful enough [first selectman]. I think I understand what you’re trying to do, but you’ve gone too far on the other side of the coin,” Mr Kortze said.

By 10:30 pm, the tired group called it a night without resolving its differences.