Southington Charter Changes On Library Cause Political Divide

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A proposed charter revision to formalize the organizational structure of the local library was sent to voters this week, but not without some frank political discussions.

The Southington Town Council voted 6-3 along party lines to approve measures related to the charter changes, which specifically iron out who reports to who regarding the Southington Public Library and who oversees programs.

Southington's council consists of six Republicans and three Democrats.

One vote was to accept the Southington Charter Revision Commission's latest report, which included the revised library language, and another was to send the matter to referendum voters Nov. 8, during national mid-term elections.

The charter changes, essentially, would mandate the town manager hire the library director while the library's board of directors oversee programming and offerings.

But of the small number of speakers at a public hearing prior to the council vote, most offered opposition to the measure.

One speaker wondered if conservative political leanings among some on the Southington Charter Revision Commission and other boards played a role in placing ultimate library personnel decisions with town hall.

Local resident John Moise compared the library's place in town affairs to other, seemingly, autonomous municipal organizations, like the fire and police departments.

"Why is the charter not being changed for the fire department and the police department, which are also autonomous from the town," said Moise at the hearing Monday.

Moise openly expressed concern about seemingly Republican-minded decision makers overseeing personnel choices over the town's public supply of books, literature and other media.

"I suspect that the voters will vote this down," Moise said. "In the end, the voters are much smarter than this council gives them credit for."

Such notions were, however, vociferously denied by the charter revision commission chairman, who is a Republican.

"There's no agenda here," Mark Lajoie said at the hearing. "There's nothing here but clarity between what the town manager is responsible for and what the library board is responsible for.

"There's no reason why this shouldn't pass," Lajoie continued. "I feel we had a bipartisan committee that worked together."

Southington Public Library Executive Director Kristi Sadowski said, for the most part, what was eventually approved was what library officials were seeking — clarity.

"I think a lot of what we're looking for is in there," she said.

"The issue that we are putting to the voters is to make it very clear how the library is run," GOP Councilman Paul Chaplinsky Jr. said.

Council members themselves didn't debate the measure intensely, but the three dissenting votes were from Democratic council members Valerie A. DePaolo, Christopher J. Palmieri and Jack Perry.

Now voters have the final say.

To watch the full June 27 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

To view the full charter revision going to voters Nov. 8, click on this link.

For more information on the Southington Public Library, click on this link.