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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 11, 2005 19:09:58 GMT -5
On Monday evening, April 18, 2005,
the Town Council will hold a Public Hearing
on the Proposed 2005-2006 Town Budget
at the Wethersfield High School auditorium,
starting at 7:00 PM.
Most recent, corrected version!
According to the Town Clerk, Dolores Sassano, in collaboration with the Town Manager, Bonnie Therrien, the following procedures will be followed for those citizens who wish to address the Council first:
Citizens must "sign-up" so that they will be heard in order.
Individual citizens may "sign-up" only as early as 08:00 AM until 4:30 PM on that day by - going to the Town CLERK'S office in person, or
- signing-up at WHS from 6:30 PM (18:30).
An effort is being made on the part of the Town this year to avoid the hard feelings caused by an apparent lack of communication of these rules last year. Some elderly residents missed the opportunity to speak sooner when they chose to leave without speaking as the evening lumbered on: Last year's hearing went beyond midnight![/color][/size] Re-titled for 'special' Council meeting(s) "workshops" |
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 12, 2005 10:31:29 GMT -5
Mrs. Dolores Sassano, our Town Clerk, also points out: - people "will only be allowed to sign up for 1 person, not several at a time"
- that even citizens who have not signed may speak but after those who have signed up: "...the Mayor always asks if anyone else wants to speak before he lets anyone speak for the second time..."
- that "this is not a new procedure. I know by personal experience it was happening in the early 80's....
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 12, 2005 17:03:35 GMT -5
The following was received from the Town Clerk, Dolores Sassano, after collaborating with the Town Manager, Bonnie Therrien, later today. My original posting will now reflect the changes required by this press release correction (kes):
TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD
PRESS RELEASE
CORRECTION
[via E-mail dated: April 12, 2005, EDT: 16:32 (UT:5:00)]
There will be a public hearing on the proposed budget on April 18, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Wethersfield High School Auditorium, 411 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT.
Sign up sheets will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office on Monday, April 18, 2005 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in person only or starting at 6:30 p.m. at the High School.
Note: change in location of sign up, now the Clerk's office and only in person, not by telephone.
Dolores Sassano
Town Clerk
721-2882
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Post by tomterific on Apr 12, 2005 18:44:44 GMT -5
The signup process should be conducted the same way it was for MANY YEARS prior to the unannounced changes that occurred in April '04. Beyond that, the Town Clerk does not appear to be capable of getting her basic (new) rules right. Why was this not all worked out in advance in the sunlight? I never heard anything about this mentioned at prior Council Meetings.
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Post by SyZyGy on Apr 13, 2005 13:07:38 GMT -5
tomterific posted (4/12/2005)
"The signup process should be conducted the same way it was for MANY YEARS prior to the unannounced changes that occurred in April '04. ....."
TT, this sounds very interesting in light of what FootDoc.Weth apparently went through: he got information from the Clerk and posts it (yeah, with a little editorializing); then the Clerk emails him providing some corrections; then apparently (if I read between the lines) the Manager lands on the Clerk and the Clerk issues a new, official, corrected news release - all within the span of a day or so. So, I do understand you.
But, I would appreciate you providing some details (oops, I am sounding like LouS now) how the sign up process was handled for "many years". More importantly, what were the "unanounced changes" which occurred last year this time. Please fill us in.
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Post by tomterific on Apr 13, 2005 18:38:56 GMT -5
Very simple to respond to Syzguy - I've been paying attention to those Budget Hearings for at least 15 years, and I never saw or heard of any other method than signing up inperson at the door just before the actual hearing. And, I also remember very well that in April 2004 some persons found out that they could sign up in some fashion during the day of the hearing. That 2004 change was never communicated to the public at large, and a number of people objected to it publicly once they found out. That was badly handled last year and the frequent changes in the early signup rules this April demonstrates that the people who run Town Hall still haven't learned how to conduct themselves.
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Post by oldetowne on Apr 14, 2005 6:16:21 GMT -5
Aside from simple ineptitude, it shows that the town "insiders" continue to have a problem engineering the "show", I mean budget hearing, in such a way that it achieves their goals. Last year's parade of parents and big spenders was a well orchestrated effort. But now that those who question the emperor's attire are familiar with the sign-up process, it has to be changed to keep one step ahead of the rabble.
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Post by ThePatriot on Apr 14, 2005 7:29:48 GMT -5
I don't think they really listen anyway. It makes it appear that they want to "feel the pain" of the taxpayers, but we'll see which squeaky wheels will get the grease.
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 14, 2005 11:23:48 GMT -5
tomterific, Thanks for your feedback. Apparently there is a signiifcant divergence between the Clerk's and your recollections of this process and procedures over the last 15 years. As I had said in my "editorialization", the Town is apparently making an effort to communicate better this year than last year at least. I believe that on the first time around, each speaker will be held to 10 minutes. The second time around it jumps to 20 minutes per speaker.kes: speaking times corrected |
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Post by tomterific on Apr 14, 2005 12:42:41 GMT -5
Sad to say that the Town Clerk's credibility (as well as competence) has been at issue ever since she "got" the job. For those newcomers or with short memories, she is the wife of former Mayor Wayne Sassano (Democrat). She was appointed by the Democratic majority around 5 years ago when her husband was the Mayor. The current Council is run by a Democratic majority. I'd rather not raise these issues, but they are factual and some of the gaps omissions etc. in her performance have to be evaluated with this history in mind.
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JohnW
Bronze Member
Posts: 9
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Post by JohnW on Apr 15, 2005 10:12:07 GMT -5
Where can I see the detailed budget proposals that will be discussed at the Hearing next week? I cant find any material for the Board of Education in the public library. I cant find any good materials on the Town Website. I do not work in town so I cant get to the Town Hall before closing time. In towns where I used to live, there was much more materials available. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 15, 2005 12:12:59 GMT -5
The Wethersfield Public Library (now closed for the day) should have at least two, complete detailed copies of the Town Budget for 2005-6 (includes the BOE) for public inspection. Ask the reference librarian. I don't know, as of the moment, if they have a copy which could be "signed out." [Update: the library has NO copy available for sign-out. The Town usually only prints 50-70 such copies, since there has not been a "demand" for more, so I have been told.
Library Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesdays and
Saturdays
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fridays
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sundays
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 16, 2005 16:32:04 GMT -5
APPENDIX
Chapter A180, TOWN COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE
§ A180-4. Public meetings and hearings. C.Budget hearing. There shall be a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth [sic; revised 8/2004 to be "third"] Monday in April at a place to be determined by the Council, at least five (5) days' notice of which shall be given by publication in at least two (2) newspapers which have a general circulation in the town and by posting on the town signpost. At such hearing any citizen or property owner who desires it shall be entitled to be heard by the Council on the town and school budgets, and the hearing shall be recessed from day to day until all such persons have been heard (Charter, Sec. 705), provided that a notice of recess shall be conspicuously posted on the door of the meeting place, stating the date, time and place of the recessed meeting; provided, further, that any person who desires to speak at the subject budget hearings shall initially be heard for no longer than ten (10) minutes[/b]. After all persons who desire to speak have spoken at any one (1) budget hearing, those persons wishing to speak for a second time shall be allowed to do so but shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes[/b]. After all persons have had a second opportunity to speak, any person may thereafter speak. [Amended 1-18-1994] |
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Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 24, 2005 7:33:47 GMT -5
Contact Town Clerk for subjects (portions of the budget) to be discussed in each "workshop" of the adjounred budget hearing: (860) 721-2880
Adjourned Budget Hearing:
Tues, Apr.26: 5:30 PM - 8:30 at Community Center's Fireside Room
Adjourned Budget Hearing:
Wed, Apr.27: 5:30 PM - 8:30 at Town Hall's Council Chambers
Adjourned Budget Hearing:
Thur, Apr. 28: 5:30 PM - 8:30 at Town Hall's Council Chambers
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Post by tomterific on Apr 24, 2005 14:59:40 GMT -5
Everyone needs to pay careful attention to the night that they discuss Capital Projects. That's the time last budget season when they slipped the Cottone Field Turf project money thru (when none but the diehards were paying attention). This year, some of the meetings are in the Council Chambers. Here's hoping the TV camera gets turned on......Come on folks, does anyone really think they'll turn on the cameras?
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