The city’s Charter Revision Commission is examining a provision for removing elected and appointed officials convicted of crime or found of gross misconduct. A ballot question, if approved by the City Council, will be decided by city voters in November.
The charter panel, appointed by Mayor Bill Finch, has focused much of its public efforts on crafting a question regarding a mayoral-appointed Board of Education as the mayor makes his case to voters to allow him the tools to reform the school system. The panel, however, has operated largely under the radar in its public meetings considering updates to the charter. Members have explored sending a question to the City Council for ballot approval that would allow voters to consider a question centered on the removal of elected and appointed officials, something the charter does not provide.
The charter panel is examining a policy that establishes procedures for officials’ removal that includes a felony conviction and gross misconduct as well as egregious acts voted by the city’s Ethics Commission. The provision would give the council the authority to remove officials by a two-thirds vote as well as considering action referred by the mayor for appointments to boards and commissions. The mayor and the council would be allowed to initiate action. No elected or appointed officials would be precluded under current consideration.
The charter authorizes council members to sanction peers but provides no guidance on removing other elected or appointed positions.
The charter panel is close to providing its findings to the City Council for a June deadline. The council must approve all questions for ballot consideration. It appears the charter commission has settled on the question of a mayoral-appointed school board. It had also considered framing a question of a hybrid board of appointed and elected.
Following the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision to reverse state control of city schools, a special election for four open school board seats will take place September 4. Finch wants to appoint school board members saying there will be more accountability in the education process. Detractors scoff at the mayor’s position, saying his real preference is controlling school funds.
Charter revision questions will appear during November’s general election for president that produces the highest voter turnout.
Charter revisions revise politics more than politicians do. Pick your spot and stake your claim but don’t be surprised if your plans backfire because tactics change before the rules take effect.
Even IF the Council did approve this as a charter question and even IF a recall provision was voted in, this would mean nothing. The Ethics Commission is a bunch of spineless old men. They have no bite; not even a bark. The only way we are going to get rid of Finch and his band of thieves is when the feds come in and catch them at their own game. I hear this could be sooner rather than later.
One can only hope. What they did to Tom White for simply doing his job is disgusting. I pray for karma.
I was arrested by Bridgeport Animal Control www .bptanimalcontrol.com but later released on the grounds “I wasn’t the kind of animal that came under their jurisdiction.”
I can understand them letting you go. “DIPSHIT” does not qualify for the shelter. You can try Trumbull’s animal shelter, there are a lot of dipshits there.
I didn’t know animal control dealt with the drunk and the stupid.
That’s rich! The voters are going to decide? What voters?
NEWSFLASH–Naughty versus harassment, you decide:
Bridgeport Councilman arrested:
timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/08/bridgeport-councilman-arrested-harassment-charge/
Here’s the best part: this councilman lives in Bridgeport Alabama.
It’s a fast world we live in …
*** Better to have the provision and not need it, than to need it and not have it, no? *** SAY “YES” TO RECALL AND “NO” TO AN APPOINTED BOE. ***