It’s been decades since the city undertook a complete review to update the City Charter that establishes the rules and regulations for Connecticut’s most populous community. The last Charter Revision Commission empaneled addressed just one issue in 2012: mayoral appointment of school board members rather than elected. The question was defeated by voters.
The City Council Tuesday night is scheduled to vote on creating a panel for a broader charter review. Unclear about the specificity of items to be examined. In recent years some council members have floated ideas to buoy the legislative branch’s authority such as its own legal staff rather than relying on lawyers appointed by the executive branch, the council president, rather than the mayor, chairing meetings, and even some who believe members of the legislative branch should be compensated rather than existing on stipends to cover expenses.
Some of the larger charter changes the past 35 years include mayoral appointment of police and fire chiefs and increasing the mayor’s term from two to four years.
See full agenda and package here
We need a elected board of finance to keep us solvent.