Speak up now or forever hold your … whatever. The Bridgeport Charter Revision Commission empaneled by Mayor Bill Finch will conduct a public hearing tonight at 5:30 in City Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace.
Members of the public who intend to testify must sign the speakers list upon arrival at the public hearing, according to the mayor’s office. Written testimony may also be submitted.
This is your chance to share with the commission what you’d like placed (presumably) on the November ballot to be acted on by city voters, be it minority party representation, education initiatives, financial reform.
Former City Councilman Bob “Troll” Walsh doesn’t like the thought of an appointed Board of Education which the charter commission could ask voters to approve. The State Supremes will decide the legality of the state takeover of city schools. He shares what he will request be it verbally or in writing tonight.
As far as the Board of Education, if you were to take a good hard look at the school systems that excel in the state of Connecticut, you will find that the manner in which the board members are chosen has nothing to do with performance.
I am sure that you would find that the level of funding the school receives is a much better predictor of performance than the manner in which the local boards are constituted. As a matter of fact the governor reportedly told a caucus of Bridgeport State Senators and Representatives that the city of Bridgeport must do more to provide financial support for its schools. Even when you simply compare it to the major urban centers in the state, Bridgeport shortchanges their own BOE more than the others.
However, there is no denying that there are serious problems with the Bridgeport school system and some changes may be merited.
If you do seriously consider altering the manner in which the board is constituted then I would suggest that the first step should be a hybrid. Leave the current elected board in place as constituted.
Add three ex-officio members; the Mayor, the OPM Director and a representative of the Bridgeport Education Association. But this cannot include a “designee.” If the mayor wants to be on the board then he must be an active participant. He must be included in determining if a quorum is present and he cannot do so by proxy.
Currently the Civil Service Commission includes an employee representative elected by all employees. I believe the same process should be in place to select a representative of the school board employees.
If this commission is leaning to eliminating an elected Board of Education then surely you should wait until there is a ruling from the Connecticut Supreme Court on the current state-appointed board. If that vehicle is allowed to go forward then there is no need to rush to make change. At least learn from this experiment before conducting your own. A charter change is permanent. It cannot be done and undone at a whim.
Many people believe that this proposal has nothing to do with excellence in education. It is all about control of the BOE money; control of the BOE jobs. In politics money and jobs represent power.
If this commission decides to dabble in educational reform then I urge you to go all of the way. Demand accountability. If you decide that an appointed board is the way to go craft the language that would require a significant infusion of city cash if test scores do not improve significantly.
And if that does not happen, include language to unring the bell and sunset the appointed BOE and revert back to an fully elected one.
Don’t worry, Len.
I will also be presenting drastic changes for the City Council, the manner in which vacancies are filled on city boards and commissions, and of emasculating the city attorney.
If the mayor wants to increase the power of the mayor’s office then it would be reckless to ignore the checks and balances that apparently don’t work.
Bob Walsh,
There are no effective check and balance mechanisms in this City. The elected Mayor (or his consultors) decides what he is going to do and then he does it, without effective oversight, without regular data-driven accountability, and with the support of a handful of ‘cabinet members’ who have no respect for the people of the City and no vision of where they are moving the City by their actions.
Money oversight and accountability from City property taxpayers is a major weakness of current governance. Look at the actions of the Budget and Appropriations Committee as recorded in their minutes. Listen to what purports to be financial review each month. Attend upcoming budget hearings with a copy of the proposed departmental goals/achievements, staffing pattern and financial plan and see if you are satisfied by the level of dialogue. And that annual dialogue, unfortunately, is as good as it gets in Bridgeport, without meaningful research by the Council independent of the administration, without regular citizen input from interested, experienced and independent members of the public and with the connivance of the administration to do as little as possible to inform the public about its real contribution to the financial equation, “the unlimited taxing power of the City government.”
Would it be a dire threat to governance in the City to perform due diligence on all fiscal matters in a form similar to municipalities that get much better credit ratings? I doubt it. Would it be good for the City long term? I am sure of it. What do you think? Make your voice heard.
This hand-picked review committee is going to do what it is told to do. No matter what we say at this meeting it will go in one ear and out the other. When is the last time the council or any other board or commission did what the residents wanted done? I cant remember when.
Just look at the make-up of the board and you have your answer.
I understand Atty John Bohannon’s wife has been selected to serve as “chair” of this effort.
First concern of the day is to consider how objective she can be on behalf of the City and her citizens.
This should be much too convenient for the Finch/Wood administration to have their way … wouldn’t you think?
What’s the word on this Review Commission in your end of the woods, city hall smoker?
I haven’t heard anything. Perhaps I’ll check with one of my alter egos and let you know.
Smoker, you’re not letting the cat out of the bag, are you?
No, not yet. Having too much fun playing “Where’s Waldo.”
Conflicts of Interest? Finch never met a Conflict he didn’t like. I guess one could say he is conflicted and Bridgeport is inflicted.
town committee, I normally don’t agree with you but I agree 100% with you about The Bridgeport Charter Revision Commission empaneled by Mayor Bill Finch.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen.
The first thing you can do is hire John Stafstrom to represent you before the commission. It will be rather pricey but who knows, maybe he can work his magic.
The other option is to present to the committee as many alternate changes to the charter you can think of. If the plan is to let them go their merry way and only present to the voters a proposal to allow Finch to appoint whomever he wants to the BOE then there is not much you can do right now.
However, you should submit viable changes which when it comes to the votes voting in November you can give them reasons not to accept the commission finding.
Do nothing, say nothing, propose nothing and you are no better than the mayor.
If the Charter Commission approves the mayor’s plan and nothing else then this will become a political fight.
Vote NO to eliminating an elected Board of Education!
Vote NO to the mayor becoming the Superintendent of Schools!
Vote NO to the mayor’s efforts to take more money away from the schools.
Tell the mayor he needs to do more to improve our children’s education and not less. A NO vote will send that message loud and clear.
Talk about a mixed message.
Police Chief Joe Gaudett says he needs the entire city to help him enforce a curfew.
Bill Finch says he can run the Bridgeport School system with his own posse of BOE members.
Hey Bill, why don’t you change the charter and make yourself Chief of Police while you are at it?
“… Currently the Civil Service Commission includes an employee representative elected by all employees …”
Hey, Troll! Will all these Civil Service Employees be living in Bridgeport before they go to the polls? Will they all have to register to vote or be required to have children in the Bridgeport school system? Will this elected Civil Service Employee be a Bridgeport resident?
Joel,
All excellent questions. Show up tonight to voice your opinion or submit something in writing.
Unless the Mayor or City Attorney need to sign off on it first.
I will be there, but I will want to see Senator Ed Gomes’ written approval of whatever you are going to submit.
Lennie, I was in the process of drafting a letter to Rep. Jim Himes when I saw the tweet below. It must be the Trolls at work or maybe you or Ray know something about this:
I’m Feeling sad. Just found out bpt guy doesn’t like me anymore:
www .youtube.com/watch?v=P1Dl9rUa6-0
Love ya; we fight the same enemy.
Looking for updates on how this public hearing went, who spoke, and what the hot topics were. I could not attend as I had a work conflict. Anyone?
Zena Lu,
Only about 25-30 people in attendance. Approximately seven people spoke. Bob Walsh and BEACON2 were among the speakers. Themes of the night:
Having the right to recall
No city employees on commissions or council
The dangers of not having an elected board of ed.
Thanks, barney! That would be the Charter reform trifecta in my book, and those were the issues I hoped were addressed at the very least.