Manchester's 2022 Ballot Full Of Questions With Local Impact

MANCHESTER, CT — Manchester's 2022 state election ballot includes several questions with potential local impact.

They sit below a statewide question that lets voters decide whether the state should allow early voting. The question on the ballot is:

• "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?"

There are five other questions on the Manchester ballot, all with a local focus are:

• Shall the Town of Manchester appropriate $39,000,000 to capital accounts for the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget for the construction of a new main branch of the Manchester Public Library at 1041 Main Street and authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds of the town or notes in anticipation of such bonds in an amount not to exceed $39,000,000, or so much as may be necessary after deducting grants to be received for the project, to finance the appropriation?
• Shall the Town of Manchester amend the Town Charter to make certain technical and administrative changes?
• Shall the Town of Manchester amend section 3-4 of the Town Charter to provide for the direct election of the mayor?
• Shall the Town of Manchester amend the Town Charter to eliminate the residency requirement for the Superintendent of Schools, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Director of Public Works, and the Superintendent of Water and Sewer Department?
• Shall the membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission be increased to 7 members upon the effective date of any approval by the voters of this proposed Charter change, and to 9 members on November 17, 2025

See the local voting guide here.

The Manchester Democratic Town Committee Monday was urging local voters to support most of the referendum questions.

"After a careful review and through discussion, the DTC recently endorsed five of the six referendum questions on the ballot, and recommends a Yes vote on them," DTC Chairman Michael Pohl said. "We also want to remind voters that the Nov. 8 ballot contains more than just the names of candidates – it includes these referendum questions – and that it is important to cast a vote on them."

The only question the DTC did NOT endorse is Question 4, which proposes to amend the town charter to allow for the direct election of Mayor.

Under current charter language, the candidate who receives the most votes among those running for the town’s Board of Directors becomes chairman of that board and receives the title of Mayor.

"The town committee was undecided on whether this proposed change was necessary or would benefit our town," Pohl said. "As a result, committee members declined to make a recommendation."