Charter Revision Hearing June 13, 2016

Charter Revision Hearing June 13, 2016

As an advocate for a Town Manager for many years, I am here tonight to ask the Board of Selectmen to approve the submitted Charter and set a date for a Referendum for a town vote.

The Charter Revision Commission spent many hours and had many speakers on town management and concluded that a professional Town Manager would protect the town in the future. Simsbury has been discussing the need for a Town Manager for decades and we have slowly evolved towards the finish line.

It appears to me that Chris Kelly is the only advocate for a Town Manager. First Selectman Lisa Heavner is vehemently opposed to a Town Manager and believes that a “soccer mom,” without any professional training can administer a $94 million budget. Although the majority of this board is against a Town Manager, I would ask that they defer to the public for support of a professional Town Manager for Simsbury.

It should be noted that the Charter Revision Commission after having lengthy meetings and testimony from representatives of other towns voted 7-4 for a Town Manager.

Avon, Farmington and Granby have had a Town Manager for decades and have lower Mill Rates and higher property values. If Simsbury is to be competitive we must have professional management to guide us through fiscal uncertainty.

It is interesting to note that several past First Selectmen have given testimony to the Charter Revision Commission that after serving the Town as First Selectman, they were in favor of Town Manager. All the consultants over the years have stated that Simsbury would be better served with a Town Manager. Republican Peggy Shanks, Democrat Anita Mielert, and Democrat Mary Glassman all are in favor of a having a professional Town Manager for Simsbury. The most telling testimony came from Mary Glassman stating that Simsbury can no longer have volunteers as First Selectman. Mary Glassman stated that the daily risks in administering the daily activities were ever present. Local Government has become a complex entity that requires professional management with public policy certification and training in the position of Town Manger.

I would urge the public to listen to an outstanding documentary on You Tube and also streaming on SCTV, The Council-Manager Form of Local Government, where you hear testimony from elected officials on the advantages of a Town Manager form of government.

There are many options that can occur during the vetting process of the submitted Charter;

The Charter can be returned to the Charter Revision Commission for substantive changes.

The Board of Selectman can give a positive or negative referral to the public and submit the Charter for Referendum vote.

Another option is voting it down and continue with the present Charter which is flawed and appears to be illegal.

The present flawed Charter was the reason for convening the Charter Revision Commission.

If the Charter is voted down by the public another Charter Revision Commission would have to be appointed to fix the present flawed Charter and could once again place a Town Manager as the CEO of Simsbury.

It is time to educate the public on the need for passing the Charter although there are many items that should be reviewed by another Charter Revision Commission in the future.

I am asking the Board of Selectmen to bring the new Charter before the public for a referendum vote.

All of my comments will be posted on Simsbury Patch, Twitter@joan coe, News Feed on Facebook and Simsbury Forum/Topix.