Community Corner

Changing the 'Terms' of Service; Revision Will Mull Four-Year Terms

Brian Goralski, chairman of the Southington Board of Education, is asking the Charter Revision Commission to reinstate four-year terms to the school board and Board of Finance as part of their revision process.

A four-year term for members of the Southington Board of Education and Southington Board of Finance helps reduce learning curves, eliminates politics and would serve to provide the community with greater efficiency of operations.

At least that’s the argument being made by Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski and other members of the public as they look to gain support from the Charter Revision Commission in changing the length of terms for the two boards.

“I think we brought politics into our town operations by making the finance board and Board of Education seats two-year terms,” Goralski said. “To have members elected, learn the process and have to think about re-election immediately in their second year is difficult. We would get better efficiency in a four-year term of any new members.”

To go to a two-year term, I think it brought politics to a board that needs to focus heavily on state legislation and local education,” he said.

Term limits were changed following a recommendation from the 2006 Charter Revision Commission that was later approved by the voters. Prior to that, the Board of Education served four-year terms and members of the finance board were elected to six years in office.

Following contentious public hearings during that commission’s work, members voted to reduce those terms in hope of putting more power in the hands of the voters.

Sandra Feld, a current member of the Board of Finance and member of the 2006 Charter Revision Commission, said she supports the four-year terms for elected finance board members, although she has not taken a stance on whether four-years would be best for the Board of Education.

“I was on the commission that changed the limits to two and I think it was probably a mistake,” she said. “One of the things out of that commission as (Southington Town Attorney Mark Sciota) can attest, was unclear writing on how to vote for one member from each party. In an effort was to get rid of confusion and eliminate votes being thrown out, at the same time the board terms were reduced from six years to two.”

There are some, including current Charter Revision Commissioner Dennis Conroy, who believe it was the best decision for the community, however.

Conroy on Wednesday questioned the request, saying that he believes that if the boards are currently operating in a bipartisan way, then they are already efficient. He also questioned the learning curve, saying those elected should already have a knowledge of the job they’d be taking on.

“If voters don’t like the way our elected officials handled the budget or any other part of education, why should they have to wait four years to vote them out?” he asked.

Commissioner Bruce “Zeke” Zalaski also questioned that if incumbents are more likely to be elected than challengers – a historical point based on previous elections – whether new members wouldn’t be able to “learn the ropes” quickly with experienced members around them.

Republican commissioners did not question or comment on the requested term change.

Goralski argues that having new members every two years does not factor into the typical five-year cycles used in education planning and implementation. He said, ultimately, the long-term planning of a group working on a four-term could provide financial benefits to the town.

“In my belief, a four-year term is what saves taxpayers money,” he said. “I look forward to anything the commission brings that makes us more efficient as a community.”

What are your thoughts? Would four-years be more efficient or are you happy with two? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

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