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Don’t Tinker at the Edges

Charter revision is critical to Clinton’s future. It’s not an exaggeration to say our Nov. 6 vote on question 3 may be the most important local vote you will ever cast. Do we want to move forward or continue to drift backward? Protecting the status quo will result in continued economic stagnation, higher taxes, constant budget battles, and steady loss to towns that have professional management. This is why I strongly support moving to a town manager governmental form.

Risking insult to some, our current form of government doesn’t work well and hasn’t for a long time, no matter who or what party controls. Two major parties pick their candidates from a small group of mostly well-meaning folks who are woefully unprepared and ill-equipped to manage a town with a $54-plus million budget and a slowly dying economy. How do I know this? I’ve been part of the process. Vetting candidates and appointees usually boils down to who agrees to run or serve and who’s friends with whom. It’s a popularity contest with two-year terms. Selection is seldom based on specific qualifications for the job sought. To run for first selectman, you simply have to be a voter, be willing to run, and get nominated—that’s it.

I’m sure readers have questions. I encourage them to go to www.ClintonCharterReform.org or www.facebook.com/ClintonCharterReformCoalition—especially to find a video of the South Windsor town manager explaining this system. It was part of an information session on Oct. 4. There are two more, on Thursdays, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Cost is often brought up, but know that the first selectman’s salary is eliminated, then ask yourself what is the cost of ineffective and wasteful government? Don’t tinker at the edges, be bold!

Selectman Phil Sengle (R)

Clinton