Sam Gurwitt File Photo
Council members Justin Farmer, Brad Macdowall, Kathleen Schomaker, and Mick McGarry.
The Hamden Legislative Council set the ball rolling to begin the process of updating the town’s charter, a long process that could change the way the town’s government is structured for the next ten years.
The council approved a resolution Wednesday night to set up a charter revision commission, which will be responsible for making edits to the town charter. The revised charter will then come before the town’s voters in a referendum in November 2021. Hamden’s charter requires a revision every ten years.
The town is now looking for residents to serve on the commission. As Council President Mick McGarry explained Wednesday, it will have 15 members, and will be organized like the council. Nine members will represent the town’s nine legislative council districts, in order to ensure geographic diversity on the commission, and the other six will serve at-large.
The council is soliciting letters of interest with qualifications from residents. McGarry said they should be sent to the council by July 21 to give council members time to review them. The council will then vote on commission members at its Aug. 3 meeting.
The charter is the document that organizes town government, and the revision comes at a moment when many residents are calling for structural changes to the way the town is run. Last year, after Hamden Officer Devin Eaton shot at an unarmed black couple in Newhallville, the council passed a resolution stating its intent to create a civilian review board (CRB). Some residents and politicians said that should be a priority in the charter revision.
During this fall’s mayoral election, Republican candidate Jay Kaye suggested that the town explore switching to a town manager form of government. He said the charter revision commission should look into making that structural change to the town’s operation.
While those two possible changes will likely be on the table, the commission will also review other parts of the document that have not made headlines recently. The charter governs the structures of some commissions, departments, elections, financial processes like the drafting and passage of the town’s budget, among other aspects of town governance.
While the revised charter will come before the council for approval, the commission will likely not be composed of the people already elected to public office.
Former Councilman Jim Pascarella, who was on the council ten years ago when the town last updated its charter, said it’s essential that commission members not be too political. Those who are already deeply entrenched in the town’s politics, he said, would not be good picks.
“The minute people get a sense that it’s becoming politicized, that could cause real problems down the road,” he said. He suggested that the council seek resident members who know the town well, are leaders in their communities, but are not too involved in town politics.
CRB? Term Limits? Mayor’s Office Changes?
Councilwoman Marjorie Bonadies.
Some council members suggested specific changes they would like to see discussed as a part of the revision.
McGarry said he thinks the revision commission needs to review the structure and powers of the police commission, and possibly change them. He said it should be more representative of the town, and perhaps should have more flexibility in its powers.
Over the course of the last year, there has been friction between commissioners and protesters and residents hoping to speak on police brutality in front of the commission. When there is not an item on the agenda having to do with the Eaton case, the commission is powerless to respond to protesters or take any action, commissioners have said.
Both Councilmen Justin Farmer and Brad Macdowall said they would like to see a civilian review board, with subpoena power, added to the charter. A CRB might not replace the police commission. Rather, it would oversee cases when police officers use force, while the commission oversees hiring and policy matters.
Council members also had a number of suggestions for the mayor’s office and for the rules governing elected officials.
McGarry said he would like to see a chief administrative officer position put in the charter. The town currently has a chief of staff as the mayor’s second in command, but the position is not governed by the charter. He also said the town clerk should not be an elected position. It requires a high level of technical knowledge, and it does not make sense for such a technical positon to be elected. He noted that that opinion has nothing to do with Town Clerk Vera Morrison, who, as he pointed out, is the highest vote getter in town.
Farmer and Macdowall both made suggestions about the structure of politicians’ terms. Farmer said that either the mayor’s or council members’ terms should be extended to four years. Having staggered terms could offer continuity, and could allow politicians to do more long-term planning. Macdowall said the commission should consider adding term limits.
Justin Farmer at a recent protest.
Farmer also said there should be a way of removing politicians from office. “Obviously there should be a high threshold,” he said. He said there have been situations in the last few years in which recalling a politician might have been warranted. He referred specifically to what he called a lack of financial transparency on the part of the mayor that has caused friction this spring between council members and Mayor Curt Leng.
Councilwoman Marjorie Bonadies also mentioned the communication on financial matters between the mayor’s office and the council, and suggested that information sharing somehow be codified in the charter.
She also said she would like to see a complete reorganization of the mayor’s office. She didn’t say what exactly that would look like, but she said she would like to have staff in the mayor’s office that answers more to the council, and a structure that facilitates better communication between the council and administration.
She also said the commission should investigate having a town manager. “I would like to see the politics of town government minimized,” she said. “If that means a town manager, then I’m in favor.”
Other council members had mixed reactions to the town manager proposal. Both McGarry and Macdowall said they have reservations. Macdowall pointed out that it could still be a political appointment.
The council will be accepting letters of interest from residents until the end of July. Those interested should email letters to Council Clerk Kim Renta at [email protected]. Letters can also be mailed to Renta at 2750 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT 06518.
There should be an elected representative from each neighborhood on town council so that everybody is represented. Positions that require technical expertise shouldn't be elected, but applied for and hired based on their education and experience. An elected head official should coordinate the council representatives and department heads for meetings to vote on decisions for the town, perhaps with residents voting for the approval of the budget and any major developments or changes to the town. That way everyone's neighborhood is represented and residents have a say on their town's budget and major changes, but the people who need to be educated and experienced to do their job are qualified and not political appointees or elected.