|
Vote NO on Town Charter Revision
By Ray Pavlak, Winsted
Watch out for the black magic of the Town of Winchester’s new Charter Revision Commission. I'm very concerned that an important right of those attending the town’s annual budget meeting—that a majority vote may reduce any line item/ expense presented in the selectmen's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year—may be taken away.
Our present town charter allows those at the annual budget meeting to do two things: (1) discuss the proposed selectmen's budget; and (2) reduce the budget. Upon adjournment of the annual town meeting, the budget (reduced or as presented) goes automatically to referendum for all voters, including property owners, who may vote for approval or to return the budget to the selectmen for further action—in which case the budget is presented at another town meeting for action, including possible reduction of the budget.
However, if the right of those attending the annual town meeting to reduce the budget is taken away, those at the town meeting will only be able to discuss the budget, and upon adjournment the budget prepared by the selectmen will go to referendum. If the budget is voted down in the referendum, the budget would go back to the selectmen for revision, if any, and then back to another town meeting for discussion only.
Six or more years ago when the people had to petition for a budget referendum, the annual town meeting by state law could only discuss the original or revised selectmen's budget—and only a handful of voters attended. The people felt powerless and ignored to by the selectmen, which they were. The reductions typically made by the selectmen after rejection of their budget were minimal. After several referendum votes, most people gave up. This left the decision to a handful of people from the big spender group, who of course voted to finally approve the selectmen’s budget.
This result points to the flaws in the Charter Revision Commission's defense of the change they now propose. Under their system, the budget that is finally passed would again end up being determined by a handful of people, mainly the seven selectmen. These seven will never be any more representative of the will of the townspeople regarding the budget than the system that is now in place. Why? Because all property owners, whether electors/ residents or not, may attend the annual budget town meeting, where they can vote to reduce the budget. These same taxpayers can also vote in the budget referendum, but if they are not residents, they cannot belong to a town party and thus help nominate candidates, nor can they vote in a town election to choose selectmen.
On November 5, Election Day, there will be a question on the ballot of great importance to every voter in Winchester. Please look carefully to find it, because ballot questions have been stuck in strange locations in the past.
Let's all vote on November 5, whether by regular or absentee ballot. Don't let them take our right away! Vote NO to tell them you want the Town Charter to remain as it is.
| 
