Politics & Government

Council Sets Charter Revision Question, Plans Explanatory Text

Legislative Council approved the Charter Revision ballot question and proposed an explanatory text for voters at the polls in November.

The Newtown Legislative Council approved the during their regular meeting Wednesday night. Along with a few changes to the wording of the ballot question, the Council also moved to create a simple, informative explanatory text that will be placed in each polling booth at all polling locations on November 6.

The proposed changes were put to referendum in March but .

The wording for the ballot question [see below] must be submitted to the Secretary of State no later than Friday for approval, according to Town Attorney David Grogins, however the explanatory text does not have to finalized until the absentee ballots are sent out by the Town Clerk, no later than September 22.

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The Council also considered adding bullet headings to each of the four revisions being proposed in the single question, in order to clarify it for the voters, however Grogins warned against veering too far off script, as the Secretary of State has to approve the exact language and form before it can appear on the ballot. If the question is not approved as written by September 7, it cannot appear on the November ballot.

As a means of making the question easier to understand, the Council agreed that the explanatory text would be useful.

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When asked, Grogins stated that the text could be posted in each polling station, as it is “not one of those political things that can’t be at the polling location,” such as campaign material, which must be kept at least 75 feet from the entrance and exits. “It should be there and should be visible.”

A draft text was proposed, however Council member Paul Lundquist agreed to take the wording and attempt to produce an aesthetically eye-catching, organized display that will break it down for voters in the booth. Lundquist plans to present the template to the Legislative Council at their September 19 meeting.

The base text reads as follows:

Approval of this question will modify Section 6-14a, b & c of the Charter to provide that the Annual Budget will be voted on in two parts; one for the Town budget, and one for the Board of Education budget. In the event one question fails and one is adopted, the question which passes will be considered adopted. Any failed question or questions will be resubmitted to the voters of the Town by means of successive referenda until passed by a majority of those voting. The present Charter language, which requires that the failed budget be submitted to a Town Meeting after two failed referendums, is eliminated.

Approval of this question will also provide for two advisory non-binding questions to be placed on the ballot as follows:

“Do you deem the proposed sum of $___ to be appropriated for the Board of Selectmen as too low?”

“Do you deem the proposed sum of $___ to be appropriated for the Board of Education as too low?”

Charter Ballot Question

Shall Section 6-14a and 6-14b of the Charter be amended to change the number of questions for the Annual Budget Referendum and subsequent referenda in the event of failure(s) from one question to two questions as follows:

Shall the sum of $___ be appropriated as the budget for the Board of Selectmen for the fiscal year?

Shall the sum of $___ be appropriated as the budget for the Board of Education for the fiscal year?

and, Shall Section 6-14a of the Charter be further amended to provide that if one question is passed and one question fails, the question which passes shall be considered adopted?

and, Shall Section 6-14c of the Charter be amended to provide for successive referendums for failed question(s) until both are adopted?

and, Shall Section 7-100b be amended to remove the requirement for a town meeting in the budget process?

and shall Section 6-14c of the Charter be amended to add the following advisory questions subject to the provisions of Section 6-13(b)(2):

“Do you deem the proposed sum of $___ to be appropriated for the Board of Selectmen as too low?”

            Yes ____

             No ____

“Do you deem the proposed sum of $___ to be appropriated for the Board of Education as too low?”

            Yes ____

             No ____


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