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What Kind of Future

Living on the Connecticut shoreline is a blessing. How many people just dream of a vacation here, yet we can walk Hammonasset Beach year-round.

With this blessing comes responsibility. We are the stewards of the health and future of the water itself, and the economic stability of the surrounding area.

For this reason and others, I am supporting the petition drive launched by the Clinton Charter Reform Coalition, to ensure we voters have a chance to direct our town in hiring a town manager and planner.

In 2017, many towns and nonprofit groups have recognized that relying solely on volunteer leadership is neither practical nor wise. The world has changed and continues to change. We cannot expect citizen boards of selectmen to be fully up to speed in how to apply for grants, implement new regulations, or plan for the next 25 years of community life.

Clinton’s Charter Revision Commission worked 18 months to bring our charter into the 21st century. This nine-citizen, appointed commission’s major recommendation was the wise addition of a town manager and planner. Though this revision had solid public support at two hearings, and from the Economic Development COmmission, our Board of Selectmen voted July 5 not to give the electorate a chance to vote up or down.

I’m signing and circulating a petition to bring this matter before the public, calling for a referendum on the charter revisions. Let the voters of Clinton decide what kind of future they want on the Connecticut Riviera. Readers may go to www.clintoncharterreform.com to sign the petition.

Bethany Knight

Clinton