The three referendum questions on the Southington ballot Tuesday are important. They would provide Southington positive and necessary changes to our town charter.
I’m not publicly endorsing candidates in this election. But I do not believe these questions raise partisan issues. A “Yes” vote on these questions will enable and empower greater municipal efficiency and effective lines of organizational authority and controls. Beneficial effects will benefit all citizens and taxpayers whether they’re democrats, republicans, independents or unaffiliated voters.
Referendum Question 1 would change the lines of administrative oversight, authority and reporting of the Police and Fire Chiefs and their departments. The Chiefs now report to a Police or Fire Commission, each made up of five citizens appointed by the chairman of the Town Council for four-year rotating terms. These are generally fine upstanding citizens who want to serve the community voluntarily. But there is no requirement for them to have qualifications or experience in these areas of professional discipline. The are part-timers with regular jobs, professions, businesses or other personal full-time activities meeting as a commission monthly. The underlying issue is that they have full authority over the Chiefs and the power to hire and fire them and these two departments are entrusted with the responsibility for public safety and law enforcement.
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A Vote of “YES” to Question 1 would make two needed changes: (1) Fire and Police Commissions would become Advisory Boards, affording those commissioners an appropriate way of serving the community as volunteers offering their various skills, talents, points of view and ideas to a town that welcomes such insights. (2) The revision would put the oversight, responsibility and authority under the Town Manager who, working closely with the Chiefs would give them direct access to him and enable the town manager to carry Town Council policy to every level in our government as intended. Voters elect the Town Council who appoint the Town Manager who serves as the chief operating officer of municipal operations so the “chain of command” is complete, flowing from the voters who elect the town council. The town manager’s experience and professionally qualifications in municipal management will enable him to shape a closer liaison of all departments working as one well- coordinated team. Finally, the Town Manager is uniquely accessible in urgent and ordinary situations and to act and make decisions expeditiously.
Referendum questions 2 and 3 respectively address the inefficient and wasteful effects of decades of gradual inflation since the town charter was written. A “Yes” vote would raise the levels that now requires a formal bidding process for certain purchases or requires a vote of approval by the Board of Finances on transfers from one line item budget to another within the same departmental budget, respectively. These changes will simplify work, save unnecessary time consumed on excessive and tedious clerical and processing tasks, all increasing efficiency.
For these reasons I endorse a Vote of "YES" to each of the 3 Referendum Questions.
