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Modernizing our Government

Soon after the last election, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) appointed a new Charter Revision Commission composed of seven members. Since then the commission, under the able leadership of Dennis Donovan, has been working diligently to improve our governing document. Many updates and improvements were needed. In addition, the BOS asked them to look into a new form of government. For your information, a charter gives us “home rule” via state statute.

Some residents have come to the opinion that our existing old form of government, namely the Selectmen-Town Meeting form has seen its day and that more professional management is needed. In fact, the town meeting is only common in New England where it was created. According to the National League of Cities, it’s seen in only five percent of American towns. Its main characteristic is that it requires a high degree of public participation to be successful. The most common form of local government in America today is Town Manager-Town Council—it exists in 55 percent of American towns—so the charter commission studied that form.

The commission has now presented two draft documents to the BOS. One provides improvements to our existing charter, hence retaining the BOS and the town meeting. The second draft proposes moving to a manager-council format, while retaining some aspects of the town meeting. These documents are available on the town website, www.clintonct.org, or in the town clerk’s office.

Now it is your readers’ turn to do some work. The BOS has scheduled a public hearing on charter revision for Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall. I encourage your readers to be there and weigh in on these proposals. Modernizing our government is one change that will help move Clinton forward. Public involvement is critical to our progress.

Selectman Phil Sengle (R)

Clinton