Elected Officials Split on Decision Not to Reinstate Four-Year Terms

There will be no four-year terms returning to Southington – at least not anytime in the near future. And some in the community are frustrated that there was not a more serious discussion about it.

Members of the Charter Revision Commission spent just a few minutes discussing the concept, which was introduced by Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski at a public hearing April, before unanimously voting down the concept.

Goralski said this week that he was “not surprised, but disappointed” that members of the commission made the decision without reaching out or taking further with any members of the Board of Education or Board of Finance.

“They could have done their homework off-line,” he said. “Three sat on a previous commission and I believe they were uncomfortable considering to reverse the decision made by that commission. I don’t think they put any work into it and the lack of communication disappoints me.”

Goralski has approached the commission in April during a public hearing, requesting they consider four-year terms for the Board of Education and Board of Finance as a means of developing strong, knowledgeable public officials and creating a more efficient government.

Finance member Sandra Feld support his request during the hearing, at least as it related to the Board of Finance terms.

But members of the commission were unanimous in their decision last month to shoot down the request and instead all five expressed beliefs that two-year terms did more to put the power of government in the hands of the voters and allows them to determine every two years whether elected officials are

“Having been in the legislature, I think people need to be able to talk every two years to make her opinion known,” said commissioner and former state representative Bruce “Zeke” Zalaski.

Feld said Thursday that after the commission’s decision, members of the Board of Finance met and decided they were not going to challenge the decision or request further debate.

“The board was content,” she said. “There was majority decision by the Board of Finance not to pursue it any further.”

Goralski said his biggest concern was that members of the commission never followed up with him before debating and making their decision. He said they also never talked him about their decision, saying he found out about it from the media.

“The charter is the charter, when opened, it is their responsibility is to the public,” he said. “I don’t think they gave reasonable consideration or effort to my request.”

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