BDTC Supports the Charter Revision Changes

The Brookfield Democratic Town Committee supports the recommendations of the Charter Revision Commission and urges Brookfield residents to vote to approve these changes this November.

What every resident should know is the following:

• All recommendations were supported unanimously by the bi-partisan Charter Revision Commission.
• All recommendations are designed to increase the professionalism and business workings of our Town’s government.
• The recommendations retain Brookfield’s Town Meeting form of government, keeping policy and spending decisions in the hands of the voters.

The Charter Revision Commission proposes that Brookfield add the position of a Town Manager.  This would not “turn over the running of the government to a hired employee,” as some have indicated.  The elected Board of Selectman would retain its role in decision and policy making.  The Town Meeting remains the ultimate authority.  

The addition of a Town Manager would add a level of professionalism and continuity to the running of our town that does not exist now.  This is critically important to ongoing, multi-year efforts like Four Corners.   In its research, the Charter Revision Commission found that towns with Town Manager functions were able to move forward effectively with large scale projects. Without the continuity of a Town Manager, developers are reluctant to make long-term commitments when town leaders (and individual goals of the First Selectman) can change every two years.  Brookfield is now a $20,000,000 per year business.  We consider it prudent, in an increasingly complex environment, that the business of our town is managed by an accredited professional, while policy decisions remain with our elected officials.

The Charter Revision Commission proposes that the Board of Selectmen be expanded from three members to five.  We believe this expansion of representation brings more voices to the decision making process.  It also solves the problem of two members of different political parties being unable to discuss issues because it constitutes a quorum.  Clearly this change is a common sense move that has now been proposed by three Charter Revision Commissions, starting in 1997.  It is time to make this move.

The Charter Revision Commission recommends that non-binding advisory questions be allowed in our annual budget referendums.  This should be an obvious yes.

The remainder of the Charter Revision Commission’s recommendations should not be controversial, and deserve support.  They include standardizing the number of electors required to take action, the ability of the voters to override decisions of the Board of Finance (in the same manner that voters can currently override decisions of the Board of Selectmen) and a number of technical changes that clarify issues without changing process.

An open forum regarding the proposed Charter Revisions will be held at the Brookfield Library on Monday, October 22, from 7:00 to 9:00.  This session, moderated by Brookfield resident Professor Chris Kukk, is open to all residents.  Both supporters and opponents are invited and questions from residents are encouraged.  Please visit our website at http://www.brookfielddemocrats.org/ to read the complete BDTC statement.

We applaud the Charter Revision Commission for its diligence in providing the town with reasonable but important ways to improve the management and governance of our town.  We support their efforts, and urge all voters to support the recommended changes to Brookfield’s charter.