2015 Charter has a preamble (l);  it is on the Town of Weston website (Town Seal dates from later - a Blake Hampton design).

Charter Revision not to be on the ballot since Sept. 5, 2013 was the deadline for finalizing ballot question - very tough break for hard working Commission.  However, Town approves it overwhelmingly at it appeared on Nov. 2014 election day ballot.



CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION APPOINTED ON JUNE 10, 2013: 
Membership:  Ken Edgar, Chair. (D), Woody Bliss (R), Arne DeKeijzer (D), Nina Daniel (R), John Stripp (R), Michael O' Brien (D) and Denny Brooks (D).


First Public Hearing held before everyone left town on vacation...
SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013...video is on the website.


CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE:  Our Observer's notes below. 


THE CHARTER REVISION PASSED BY A 3-1 MARGIN IN NOVEMBER 2012:

BUDGET PROCESS FY2013-2014 WILL BE ACCORDING TO THE NEW CHARTER

                        
THE BUDGET PROCESS REVIEW SCHEDULE FY2013-2014

After Public Hearing, Board of Finance cuts school budget by $190,000, which is an actual cut to last year's total...no quorum at ATBM.

Budget Process FY'14 - Application for absentee ballot;  Or you might prefer to go to Town Hall,
and you can vote absentee on the spot (if you know you are going to be out of town May 2nd).

No quorum at ATBM on 8pm count.

Voting on machines at WHS Library afterward, above;
Beginning April 25th, absentee ballots available at Town Hall during working hours (9am-4:30pm);
REFERENDUM
Thursday,May 2, 2013, in-person voting at Weston Middle School Gym from 12 noon to 8pm.
Have you checked out the new rules of voting at ATBM and after, in the Referndum process yet?


Budget passes  @ 10-1 ratio "yes" to "no." 
Only 289 bothers to vote.  80 voted after ATBM, 22 did absentee and 187 came to the WMS Gym.  ACTUAL RESULTS:  Town 256-33, School 251-38, Capital 262-27




SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHARTER REVISION - "YES" 3039, "NO" 996 - NEW CHARTER HERE

Appointed June 2, 2011
Ken Edgar, Dennis Tracey, Woody Bliss, Arne DeKeijzer, Nina Daniel, Dick Bochinski, Susan Moch



ON THE WESTON BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 6- "YES-NO" ON NEW CHARTER - "YES" wins, 3039-996

SELECTMEN'S PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 14 PHOTO BELOW:  Action taken on June 21 to request change to separate Town from Capital budgets in Referendum.  Charter Revision Commission has last meeting July 10, 2012 at 8pm in Town Hall

The Charter Revision Commission met Tuesday at Town Hall for the last time. Their terms of office run until August 1, 2012.


Members present voted 6-0 to change Referendum to cover all three major parts of budget (Town, School and Capital).
 
(Not able to get the seventh vote because access to telephone hook-up not available as room originally posted for meeting was taken by C.E.R.T. training session.)

Change made to accomodate request by Selectmen (now in writing) from the June 21 Selectmen's meeting (after their Public Hearing, see below).

NOTE:  This is actually the way the Charter Revision Commission had stated Referendum process in the first place, if memory serves!  It was reported at this last meeting that some towns do not have referenda on the Capital Budget - but they assume that ATBM makes that decision.  No longer would work here since the Charter Revision Commission established a quorum for action at the ATBM - possible that no action could be taken (this year, for example, no quorum would have been present).



Non-League Report: Selectmen close 90 minute hearing and will decide June 21st. whether to ask for changes or not.


BOTH NEW VERSION OF CHARTER POST-APRIL 25 AND NEW REPORT ISSUED:


Here are links:  Prepare for Selectmen's Public Hearing June 14 by reading these documents...

Charter itself as proposed for Selectmen's Public Hearing June 14, 2012

Explanation of Changes





CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 25, 2012, CLOSED
The LWV did not make a statement, but it was one that Leaguers were present on both sides of the table!



READ THE NEW CHARTER HERE
DRAFT READY FOR PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 25, 2012!

ATTENTION:  At the Charter Revision Commission meeting Saturday morning at 11am, March 31, 2012, the Weston Charter Revision Commission voted unanimously 6-0 (one member on speaker phone, one already having indicated assent to a Co-Chair., but not present) the Final Draft was approved for release to the public.   Moved, Susan Moch, seconded Dick Bochinski.

A Public Heating will take place on the draft new Charter on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, we assume at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room - please look for Public Notice in the newspaper.

As the League Observer heard it, the last few edits will be made and the document know as a DRAFT will be uploaded to the Town of Weston website as soon as possible, and this fact may be announced at Annual Town Budget Meeting on Wednesday April 4 at 8pm.

The general process for how the Charter Revision Commission proceeds from here is: 


UNANIMOUS, BI-PARTISAN POSITION BY BOARD OF FINANCE:  SIX (6) YEAR  TERM FAVORED.  THAT LATER REJECTED BY CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION MARCH 17, 2012, AT LAST DRAFTING SESSION.

Will anyone care?  We hope so!
As soon as League got the final draft document explaining changes from old Charter in .doc format we uploaded it here



OBSERVER CORP REPORT FOR MARCH:  HIGHLIGHT ON CHARTER REVISION:
There will be open public meetings by the Charter Revision Commission after they get a 13 page plain-English summary of what's being proposed for change in a new Charter completed.  After submitting the summary to the FORUM on Monday March 22, these extra public input meetings are scheduled for:
 
TELEVISED MEETINGS INSTEAD OF A SEPARATE EXTRA PUBLIC HEARING: 
March 24 Sat. 1pm,
March 25 Sun 11:30am
March 28, Wednesday, 7:30pm,
March 31, Saturday at 11am.


Then, required  PUBLIC HEARING will be April 25, Wednesday, we assume at 7:30pm;  after public weighs in, May 2 & 10 for adjustments if necessary and to the Selectmen, who have up to 45 days to consider the Charter Revision Commission's proposed changes...

The new Charter proposal is supposed to be on the ballot in Novermber, so there are other deadlines to be met once the Board of Selectmen, with one member recused, decides on what to recommend to the town.

Drafting Session #2 Feb. 8, 2012, 7:30-9:45pm, Town Hall Commission Room...and March 10-11;  some not observed by League.
Moving to the Commission Room for the February 8th meeting, the Charter Revision Commission decided to have the weekend meetings for drafting in the Commission Room - 1pm on Saturday (did not take place after all) and 11:30 on Sunday (Feb. 11 & 12) - CANCELED.  Observer Corps notes that there are still issues that have not been resolved by consensus.



Co-Chair will be at Speak Up
Drafting Session #1 Feb. 1, 2012, 7:30-9:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room.

These sessions are not being televised.  It was suggested that the Commission was within its rights to do"drafting" in executive session.  But this Commission would not do that - but no paper copy would be circulated to any member of the public, as this document is still not considered FOI discoverable. 

However, those in the League who attended all sessions of the 2003 Charter Revision Commission (minor revisions), which met in open session, and have been using the 1979 Charter for dozens of years, find that with the guidance from the Commission (for example - "Article 1 is old article 2" or vice versa) - it is easy to follow.

Schedule for futute drafting sessions:

Feb.8 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Commission Room
Feb. 11 Saturday at 1pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 12 Sunday at 11am, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 15 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Feb. 29 Wednesday at 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
-------------
Tentative Public Hearing March 21, a Wednesday (televised)




ANOTHER MEETING, THIS TIME A SPECIAL (TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012) COVERS ARTICAL EIGHT AGAIN:
Link to draft agenda here.




JANUARY 4, 2012 meeting goes over Article 8, the budget process.  League members in observance.  Agreement on movingend date to first week in May - this for ATBM.   Referendum and exactly how it might work discussed.  What is a quorum for ATBM?  Should there be one?



7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
AGENDA FOR THE DECEMBER 21 MEETING OF THE WESTON CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
Item 1 – Approval of the Minutes of the December 7 Meeting/done
Item 2 – David Coprio, Chair, Building Board of Appeals, appeared before the Commission;  Charter as it relates to the Building Board of Appeals - informed Commission of the job of the B.B.A..
Item 3 – Conceptual discussion of the annual budget process. The Commission discussed the following questions regarding the budget.  AND YOU CAN WATCH THIS MEETING ONLINE AT THE TOWN OF WESTON WEBSITE!  Next meeting this will continue.

‐ When should the Annual Town Budget Meeting (“ATBM”) be held?
‐ Should the ATBM be allowed to increase or decrease the proposed budget?
‐ Should a quorum be required in order for the ATBM to act?
‐ Should any vote on increasing or decreasing the budget at the ATBM be conducted by secret ballot?
‐ Should the budget then go to a referendum for approval?
‐ Should the referendum be mandatory or by petition only?
‐ What happens if the budget is not approved?

Item 4 – Any other business of the Commission.


Charter Revision Commission, Dec. 7, 2011, 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room

After discussion, Commission decides not to vote on any specific recommendations so far, and not to be tied to any early "decisions" until more public input is obtained. 

The history of Weston Charters and their revisions was then presented in a power point and will be up on the town website in pdf form.  Did you know that there was a mandatory referendum for a few years in between charter revisions...until the big revision in 1979 that gave power to the people to take the budget to an adjourned town meeting and machine vote either before or after ATBM?  Along the lines of 25 signatures to call a special town meeting to override the Board of Selectmen action (change to several hundred, if we recall accurately, in 2003).



The subject of "Home Rule" comes up in meetings in October and November.  How does this issue relate to Charter Revision, if at all?  Click here.

WHAT IS "HOME RULE" AND IS THIS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES WITH  CHARTERS?
Many other documents prepared and online at Town of Weston website (on the Charter Revision Commission subpage );  some of these documents show what was changed or added; plus CT Office of Legislative Research report of what Charter Revision Commissions are supposed to do.



Woody Bliss explains how First Selectman's powers really work.

THE WORK BEGINS AT OCTOBER 5 MEETING!  All meetings televised on Channel 79!
Early testimony came from Town Attorney Pat Sullivan.  She answered specific questions and pointed out that the Charter of 1979 works well.  Her services are available as rewrite progresses.  Then
the Charter Revision Commission got to work reviewing Articles 2 and 3 ("Town Meeting" and "Board of Selectmen").  It was determined that Annual Town Budget Meeting should be separate discussion and Referendum should be considered.  It was also discussed that specificity of some recommendations by P&Z at an earlier meeting were not needed in the Charter.  It was preliminarily decided to have a definitions section.  More non-League observations here.  




Town Administrator Landry shares his thoughts...September 24, 2011
Followed by former First Selectman Woody Bliss, who advised not tinkering with those many sections of the Charter which haves worked so well for so long.


"IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT" and the converse "IF IT IS BROKE, FIX IT" - Woody Bliss hands out "CHEER FLIP SIGNS" (not pictured) with the same message.

The Charter Revision Commission interviews continued in a special Saturday morning-afternoon session...with Selectman David Muller (l) first up Saturday...after his presentation, it should be no surprise that George Guidera was elected six (6) times!  Woody Bliss, who was elected four times to the same post stepped to the mic to give his take on town government and the Charter.  From the point of view of both Board of Finance on which he served previously, as well as his business experience and recent long service as First Selectman.

Town Administrator Tom Landry and former First Selectman George Guidera (1987-1999) spoke.  David Muller had gone first and submitted written testimony as did Woody Bliss, going last, who gave us a copy, which we uploaded here.  Meeting lasted three and one-half hours. 

COMING UP
Four towns' Charters will be basic reference, altho' any others may be referenced, too (the four - Brookfield, Canton, Ridgefield and Wilton).  NEXT:  Oct. 5 Wednesday, Weston Town Attorney invited - after her testimony, work will begin in earnest.  Former First Selectman Hal Shupack provided the minutes of all 1979 Charter Revision Commission minutes to Ken Edgar and it is noted that that Commission me every week for a year.



Regular Meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room to hear from First Selectman and Board of Education Chair.
Board of Education Chair.Phil Schaefer (above), speaking for himself, says ATBM and in effect Town Meeting itself is out of date.  Both he and First Selectman Weinstein think budget process should allow for raising numbers as well as cutting budgets.  First Selectman should be part time and probably 2 year term, Weinstein says. 

SPECIAL MEETING TO LISTEN TO PLANNING AND ZONING, MINORITY SELECTMAN AND BOARD OF FINANCE:
September 17, 2011 special meeting runs from 11am to 1:25pm:  Weston FORUM will report on it and may have photographs.  Some discussion as members asked questions (more than the ones that had been sent to those invited to speak).  The questions asked of invitees not in the posted notice - but since the Town TV channel 79 recorded the q. & a., there is virtually a public record of of these in the discussion  Additional testimony from First Selectman and Chair. of the Board of Education Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Saturday at 11am other participants, T.B.A..


Now called Charter Revision Commission...
September the month for more public input plus invited input from office holder, presernt and past.

Second PUBLIC HEARING Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7:30PM, TOWN HALL:.
Six "speakers" (one written statement), two from League. NOTE:  More September meetings of Charter Revision
Commission are as follows:  17th at 11am, 22nd at 7:30pm and 24th at 11am - all in Town Hall - to interview
invited members of Boards and Commissions and previous ofice holders.




CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE MET WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011 AT 7:30PM IN  THE TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM
-
AGENDA (as posted on the Town website)


Public Hearing Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 7:30pm on Town TV from the Town Hall Meeting Room

First Public Hearing completed (July 19, 2011):  Read online report from non-League source here.  Three members of the seven member Charter Revision Committee are or were, members of the LWV of Weston and its Study Committee on the Charter.  Also, speakers and one who contributed a letter from the League's Committee itself participated, but noted they were not speaking for the League.



Full Town Affairs Update report here.

...Charter

When it comes to the budget, the process by which it is created, voted on, and implemented each year is dictated by the Weston Town Charter.

Voters on Nov. 6 approved a new town charter — already in effect — by a 3-1 margin. Mr. Edgar, who led the Charter Revision Commission that spent more than a year re-tooling the document,  thanked voters for their support. He then explained some of the changes.

For the past three years, the Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM) — a Town Meeting where the budget is decided by voice vote — has been followed by a machine referendum, because of petitions from voters or votes by the Board of Selectmen.

“We codified the process,” Mr. Edgar said. The budget vote will now go immediately to a machine vote after the ATBM, which must now have a quorum of at least 2% of registered voters in order for the budget to be lowered (it may not be raised at the ATBM). Voters may cast ballots that same night, or at a polling place a week or so later.

Other major changes to the charter include the tax collector being changed to an appointed post; the terms of the finance board members will be four years instead of six; the elimination of school board “safe seats” (every election can have a competitive race); and the Board of Ethics is now an official board.



Weston FORUM covers Saturday, September 17, 2011 meeting of Charter Revision Commission, along with LWV of Weston Observer Corps.

THE WESTON FORUM REPORTS...

From left, Charter Commission members Richard Bochinski, Susan Moch, Co-Chairman Dennis Tracey, Co-Chairman Ken Edgar, Woody Bliss, Arne de Keijzer, and Nina Daniel at their Aug. 17 meeting. —Margaret Wirtenberg photo

Weston Charter Revision Commission: Working out how to work
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 11:22

At its meeting last week, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, the seven people appointed to review and revise the town charter focused on how, exactly, they are going to conduct business moving forward.  One of the first things the group did was to change its name from the Charter Revision Committee to the Charter Revision Commission in order to conform with state references to such bodies formed by municipalities.

Even though the Board of Selectmen officially formed a “Charter Revision Committee,” members did not see a need to get permission to change the name. They agreed to change any references to a “committee” in previous meeting minutes.  Co-chairman of the commission Ken Edgar then led the other members through discussions on both general and specific ways in which the group should proceed in its review of the charter.

Mr. Edgar said while the commission should look at the entire charter, “my basic philosophy is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ meaning, if in fact something is working well, it’s not necessarily a good idea to revisit it and try to make it better.”

The challenge for the commission, Mr. Edgar said, is first to determine what parts of the charter are “broken,” and then come up with ways to fix them.  He said he will be looking for several things:

[Please read the rest of this article in the archives at the Weston FORUM website]


Weston charter revision: Selectmen choose committee
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 11:22

Seven people have been chosen to review Weston’s town charter and to make recommendations regarding possible amendments to it.

On Thursday, June 2, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint the following people to the Charter Revision Committee: Woody Bliss (Republican), Dick Bochinski (Democrat), Nina Daniel (R), Ken Edgar (D), Dennis Tracey III (R), Arne de Keijzer (D), and Susan Moch (D).

By law, the committee must have minor party representation. The selectmen said they were hoping they would be able to appoint at least one unaffiliated member to the committee, but none came forward.

In addition, a maximum of two members may hold elected office. While several candidates serve on appointed committees, only Mr. Bochinski, a member of the school board, holds elected office.

The Charter Revision Committee members have terms that expire in one year, on June 30, 2012. The selectmen have said if possible, they would like recommendations before the next budget vote in April 2012.

By law, the Board of Selectmen may not limit the scope of what can be done or offer the committee any parameters when it comes to examining the charter — the committee must decide which parts it wants to examine.

[Please read the rest of this article in the archives at the Weston FORUM website]





Immediate past Charter Revision Commission (2003)
Members agreed on a limited review:  change the time of ATBM and require more signatures to enact ordinances and "
to give the board of Selectmen the discretion to reject a petition that is materially the same as a matter that previously has been voted upon by referendum.or other acts"

A  C  T  I  O  N  S :
As approved at a Special Board of Selectmens' Meeting Tuesday, September 16, 2003 at 8am in Town Hall Meeting Room...revisions made by Secretary of the State's Office for clarity.

C H A R T E R     R E V I S I O N    Q U E S T I O N S :

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Section 2.2 Annual and Special Meetings, be amended to change the Annual Town Budget Meeting starting time to 8:00pm and the ending time to 11:30pm.

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Secion 2.7 Petition for a Special Town Meeting for Enactment of Ordinances or Other Action, be amended to change the required personal signatures to not less than 5% of qualified voters.

Shall the Charter of the Town of Weston, Section 2.7 Petition for a Special Town Meeting for Enactment of Ordinances or Other Action, be amended to give the board of Selectmen the discretion to reject a petition that is materially the same as a matter that previously has been voted upon by referendum.

What people were interested in last time (2003):






Charter Revision and the C.G.S.