Guilford- On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, Guilford voters will be asked a question at the polls: Shall the proposed Guilford Charter Amendments and Transition Language approved by the Guilford Board of Selectmen on May 10, 2005 be adopted?
Voters have a choice of voting “yes” or “no.”
What exactly are the amendments to the Charter? In an effort to help Guilford residents understand the changes to the town's Charter, some of the more substantial items that were revised and modified by the Charter Revision Commission and subsequently approved by the Board of Selectmen are reviewed in detail, below.
If approved, the effective date of the Charter, as amended, is Dec. 8. There is no minimum percentage of votes to approve the changes; only a majority must vote “yes” for approval.
The Charter Revision Committee, a seven-member volunteer group, was established by the Board of Selectman in October, 2004. Its number one task was to review the document, and suggest changes and/or revisions, if necessary, to the town's 1639 Charter.
The Charter outlines the town's form of government, the process of elections and elective officers, term limits, and the duties and powers of such officials. It also governs how boards and commissions are appointed, and how town employees, administrative offices and agencies can be chosen and removed, and their subsequent duties.
The last significant change in the Charter concerned the 2003 change to increase the Board of Selectmen from three members to five.
“I believe the change from three members to five has opened up the office and made us more involved,” said Selectwoman Janet Poss in an interview earlier this year. “In the old days, when the minority person was one, you didn't have someone else to discuss opinions and issues with.
“Today, there is more dialogue and interaction among the five us, than with three,” added Poss. “For the public, there are five personalities to relate to, thus more opportunities for discussion.”
Sub: Proposed Charter Changes
Vacancies in Elective Offices - The Board of Selectman have the authority to fill a vacancy in an elected office (Board of Finance, Board of Education, etc.) within 60 days (instead of 30 days) after the vacancy occurs.
Vacancies in Appointed Offices – The Board of Selectmen can fill any appointed vacancy on a board or commission (Board of Ethics, Inland Wetlands Commission, etc.) within 120 days (instead of 60 days) after the occurrence.
Terms of Office – A member of an appointed board or commission can serve no longer than two full consecutive terms (most terms are for four years). One year after completing two full consecutive terms, this person is eligible for appointment to the same board or commission. Term limits also apply to alternative members, but time spent as an alternate member would not be counted as the term of a regular member should an alternate become a regular member.
Board of Fire Commissioners – at present, there are three regular members of the Board of Fire Commission appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The change is to five members.
Fire Department – The Board of Fire Commissioners would appoint a fire chief and an assistant chief of operations. At present, the fire chief and other leadership positions are voted on by the volunteer fire department at a special election. A volunteer assistant chief and other necessary officers of the volunteer Fire Department will still be elected at volunteer Fire Department meetings to serve terms of three years. The Board of Fire Commissioners would also have the authority to determine whether the appointed positions of fire chief and fire marshal shall be filled at the same time by one or two persons (at present, it is filled by one person). Upon successful passage of the Charter changes on Election Day, the Fire Commissioners (now a board of five) shall appoint a fire chief in substitution for and to succeed immediately, any fire chief previously elected by the volunteer Fire Department. Also, the Board of Fire Commissioners may appoint a person to the newly created position of assistant chief of operations. The volunteer Fire Department may elect a person to the newly created position of volunteer assistant chief.
Special Appropriations and Transfer of Appropriations: Payments into and appropriations from a reserve fund for capital and non-recurring expenditures would be made only upon the recommendation of the Board of Finance and approval by vote of the Board of Selectmen (instead of approval by vote of town meeting).
Copies of the current Charter and proposed revision are available at the office of the Town Clerk at the Guilford Town Hall, 31 Park Street, and on the town's website at www.ci.guilford.ct.us.
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