In a time of recession and tight family budgets in all households, the outcry of people that government is too big and costs too much money, the Town of Brookfield proposes we hire a “Town Manager” and two additional selectmen.
The Town Manager would be a paid position with benefits; the details of which are not clearly spelled out. The seemingly noble idea that the selectmen would then become unpaid positions is suspect and could be changed later. A town manager would not be directly accountable to the citizens of Brookfield. This would be a hired salaried employee of the town and an extra layer of government bureaucracy and expense.
In minutes of a recent Selectmen’s meeting it was acknowledged that land development in Brookfield is near its maximum. This contradicts one of the reasons stated in the proposal that a Town Manager is needed because the town is expanding! Another reason given was that state and federal regulations have expanded dramatically and generate more work. This loaded issue is a critical part of the displeasure Connecticut citizens have with both our state and federal governments! We don’t want our elected town officials to give in to this increasing quagmire of regulations — we want them to fight and resist increased state and federal regulations precisely because that increases government cost and bureaucracy. The proposed Charter Revisions are bad for Brookfield and all nine proposals should be voted down.
The Minutes of the Meeting of May 3 stated Town Attorney Grogins told the Board of Selectmen they should provide the citizens of Brookfield with as much information as possible in a neutral manner prior to the vote. The explanation of the nine sections of the proposed revisions recently printed in the Brookfield Patch was mind-numbing. I do hope the Board of Selectmen follow Attorney Grogins advice and send a clear, “neutral” explanation to every home in Brookfield before Election Day.
Heather Creagh,
Brookfield, CT
