On March 10, 6 p.m. in City Council chambers the 13-member Charter Revision Commission will conduct a public hearing for community input as it navigates an update of the city’s rules and regulations document.
He may have been down for a while from a nasty gut infection but two-time mayoral candidate Chris Caruso who spent two decades on the City Council, as well as the State House, is back on the mend sharing thoughts about modernizing the Bridgeport City Charter.
His initial suggestions:
1. A Code of Conduct (Ethics) coupled with an independent and staffed Ethics Commission to hold accountable the actions of elected officials, lobbyists, gifts for all elected officials, appointed Commissioners & City employees. The Commission budget is to be submitted to the Executive Branch and forwarded to the Council for action.
2. Expand and better define the role and powers of the City Council. The Council needs to be a separate yet equal branch of government. There should also be minority political party representation on the Council similar to the Board of Education.
3. The Mayor and Executive Branch is required to prepare and present a strategic plan for the City’s development and growth. As part of the Plan, recruitment of BRIDGEPORT residents to serve on boards and commissions is to be included.
4. Expectations of performance required of appointed Commissioners and elected officials. Expectations should include but not limited to, attendance, part time and full time elected officials receiving taxpayer compensation. A prohibition on full time elected officials receiving outside income while be compensated by the taxpayers.
5. Create a Contract Standards Review Board to review all City contracts including privatization of City services for accountability of taxpayer money to curb waste, abuse, to increase transparency and curb corruption.
6. Elect ZBA and P&Z Commissioners and alternates.
Good roadmap to guide the Charter Commission. (Glad to see you’re back in action, Chris!)
Elect a Board of Finance to serv both the city as well as the BBOE with minority political party representation.