Diana Stricker Photo
RTM chair Greenalch,Bruno and Sullivan
Branford’s proposed Public Building Commission is closer to becoming a reality.
First Selectman James Cosgrove gave the Rules and Ordinances Committee (R&O) a revised draft of an ordinance that would create the commission. (See photo above)
“This is a simpler version, more in line with our ordinances for other commissions,” Cosgrove said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Following a brief discussion, the issue was re-referred to a special meeting of the R&O on May 27 at 6 p.m. Any recommendations made by the committee are subject to approval by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).
“I think we’re very close with this,” said Richard Greenalch Jr., who chairs the R&O Committee.
Cosgrove has been a strong advocate of establishing a permanent commission to oversee public building projects. This is critical since the town is facing several major projects—a new public works building, a new senior citizen center, renovations at Walsh Intermediate School and renovations at either Sliney Elementary School or the former Branford Hills Elementary School.
When the R&O began discussing the proposed Public Building Commission in January, Cosgrove distributed a 4½-page draft. Click here to read about that meeting. The new draft is only 1 ½ pages. The revised copy calls for five permanent members instead of nine. Both drafts specify that two temporary members may be added for a specific project. Cosgrove later told the Eagle that he thought nine permanent members plus temporary members would make the commission too large.
Political Make-Up Unclear
Both drafts stated that no more than one of the two temporary members should be of the same political party. It also said that members should have expertise in architecture, engineering, finance, construction, law or related fields.
The January draft has lengthy explanations about the powers and duties of the proposed commission. The April draft gives a brief description of the responsibilities: “The commission shall manage such approved building projects as shall from time to time be assigned to it by the first selectman. The commission may assist, at the first selectman’s request, in the planning for approved building projects and in the supervision of the construction of such projects. The commission may request the first selectman to appoint an engineer to work with the commission at its discretion.”
Greenalch later told the Eagle that the R&O Committee, which includes three attorneys, typically writes an ordinance and then gives it to the town attorney for review before presenting it to the RTM. “We try to follow the language of other ordinances to be consistent,” he said.
Other New Commissions?
In addition to the proposed building commission, the R&O is deliberating several other ordinances, including the creation of an Arts and Culture Commission; changing the status of the Town Green Committee to a commission; and providing property tax relief for totally disabled veterans.
Greenalch told the Eagle he hopes to finalize some of the ordinances at the May 27 committee meeting, especially the Public Building Commission. “That’s the First Selectman’s priority and we’d like to get that resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
The draft states that all contracts related to building projects, including school projects, must be authorized and approved by the Board of Selectmen (BOS).
“This commission is not to replace any responsibility of the Representative Town Meeting, Board of Finance, or Board of Selectmen,” Cosgrove told the committee.
The draft also states that the commission will be designated as the school building committee unless otherwise designated by the RTM and the BOS.
The special meeting to discuss ordinances will be held at the Fire Headquarters on May 27 at 6 p.m., and will be followed by a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the status of the Town Green Committee.
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