Clinton Charter Revision Commission Seeks Public Feedback, Questions on Town Manager
Clinton’s Charter Revision Commission (CRC) has set a date, Wednesday, Sept. 7, for a public hearing on the question of whether the town should move to a town manager form of government. In the weeks leading up to the hearing, the CRC plans to field questions and gather comments from Clinton residents.
The public is invited to submit comments and queries to charterrevision@clintonct.org.
The nine-member CRC has met twice a month since mid-spring to begin the work of updating the town’s charter, which was last revised in December 2012. Most of the proposed changes to the charter originate from a May 4 public hearing in which voters submitted their ideas for improving town governance, including term limits for elected and appointed officials, strengthening ethics provisions, and precluding individuals from serving on multiple boards where conflicts of interest could arise.
Arguably the most significant recommendation is to move from a first selectman to a town manager form of government—a decision that directly affects several other considerations before the commission.
CRC members have been researching other Connecticut towns run by professional town managers (typically these are long-term, salaried positions held by individuals with a master’s degree in public administration) and will present their findings at the Sept. 7 public hearing. The hearing starts at 7 p.m. and will take place in the auditorium of Andrews Memorial Town Hall.
The group plans to invite one of Connecticut’s town managers to help answer questions from both the commissioners and the floor.
“This will be an avenue for the public to learn more about what a town manager does and to ask questions and voice their opinions and concerns,” said CRC Vice Chair Karen Marsden. “We will accept emails up to the day of the public hearing, until 3 p.m.,” she added, noting that feedback in advance will give the group a better understanding of the public’s views and concerns and help the commission direct the conversation in a way that answers key questions.
