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: 

• MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 - PRESENTATION OF FINAL REPORT TO SELECTMEN
• Friday meeting September 6, 2013 votes 5-2 for quorum at ATBM to be a number - 130.  After voting initially 5-2 for a quorum of 100.  Quorum reworded to make sure both registered voters and Grand List voters counted for the quorum.
  
• OVER - SECOND PUBLIC HEARING  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28, 2013  AT 7:30PM IN TOWN HALL...This will be on the ballot November 5, 2013 as well as contests for 4 boards plus Probate Judge.  The DRAFT of afinal report online now:  Go to Town of Weston website for supporting documents.
• SECOND PUBLIC HEARING August 28, 2013 - this announced at August 8, 2013 meeting.  At that meeting, the Observer notes all were present (one by telephone) and a "sense of the meeting" determined that the quorum be left at 2% but that the "2%" only be of registered voters - thus making it both easier to determine and slightly lower than actual 2% number.  The co-chair. who drafted the new Charter last time will now make changes for review and the next meeting (August 14).
• Public meeting Thursday not on Town TV,(although it was moved to the Meeting Room due to long early evening meeting in the Commission Room going beyond its time limit). Interesting and long (90 minutes) full discussion of all items brought up at the previous public hearing Wednedsday.  Another working meeting set for Tuesday July 2, 7:3opm in the Town Hall Meeting Room was canceled.  Co-Chairs open to compromise on resolution to ATBM 2013 quorum count issue? SECOND PUBLIC HEARING in September to avoid religious holidays.
• Public Hearings: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room and at the end of the process, in September.TESTIMONY AT FIRST PH:
  There were five (5) speakers and one written comment at the Public Hearing 6-26-13.  The next meeting is 6-27-13 at 7:3p0pm in the Commission Room.  Board of Educations requested excepting them from the "election in January" for their board, WFFR defended keeping the Referendum, the quorom was questioned vigorously by three others.  ATBM incident discussed.  Former member of the Charter Revision Commission sent in a letter saying he thought the "quorum" provision was being manipulated and should be eliminated.
  
• Working meetings only in August - the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.  To be finished in time (September-October) to be on the November 5, 2013 ballot (allows time for Selectmen's Public Hearing and review process including referral back to the Charter Revision Commission).
• Follow Charter Revision...
  
  
  

• NEW (2013) PLACE TO FIND TOWN CODE INCLUDING CHARTER
  
• FORUM reports on meetings of previous Commission, including report on post-election Town Affairs Update Weston Forum Nov. 14, 2012 article;
  
• OBSERVER CORPS reports on charter revision 2011-2012;  non-League reports here.
  
• PREVIOUS charter (even older) revision actions - 2003.
• TOWN OF WESTON CHARTER ONLINE
• Other related information (statutory authority).
• How did the new Charter work out in FY'14 Budget Process?
  

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

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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

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

• Public Hearing to listen to comment (and offer explication of text), review and changes if needed and then...
• to the Board of Selectmen (Selectman Tracey to recuse himself), who will have a specified time for review themselves
  
• and then they hold another Public Hearing.  
  
• If they would like to have the Charter Revision Commission make changes to the Draft (and only the Charter Revision Commission can make changes), it all goes back to the Commission - who can make them or not,
  
• sending back the document to the Selectmen for an "up or down" vote. 
  
• There is an appeals process for the public, who may, in the event of a "down" vote by the Selectmen, have the Charter Revision placed on the November ballot.

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. 

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:

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

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. 

• On Channel 79, and all meetings will be, with the possible exceptions of Special Meetings, but no vote taken on this.
• Invitations to attend public hearing and provide written comment - for two dozen or so officials - suggested. 
  
• Excellent link provided by Commission member Moch:  http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/ordinances.htm
  

...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...

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 "

Charter Revision and the C.G.S.