At the July 25th Ansonia Charter Revision Commission meeting, members voted on a proposal to give the City citizens the right to vote on any budget increase exceeding 1.5%.
The proposal was defeated because the vote was tied. Four members voted YES, four members voted NO, and one member was absent. To pass, there has to be a majority, so a tie is the same as a defeat.
YES VOTE:
Janet Waugh, Republican
Pat Henri, Republican
John Marini, Republican
Lorie Vaccaro, Republican
NO VOTE:
Kay Jeanette, Democrat
Chris Lisi, Democrat
Beth Lynch, Democrat
Bill Luneski, Independent
ABSENT:
David Knapp, Democrat
This vote is the only progress to date on the three items that I requested the Charter Revision Commission raise:
1. Budget increases of more than 1.5% to be voted on by the citizens of the City of Ansonia
2. If item one isn’t passed, final approval of the annual City Budget changed from the Board of Appropriation and Taxation (BOAT) to the Board of Aldermen.
3. Term limits for Board of Aldermen members: 3 consecutive terms. Individuals would be able to run again after one, 2‑year break.
I believe that it is critical for the citizens of Ansonia to have a say on the budget that they fund – either through a direct vote on increases or by giving their elected Aldermen final budget approval.
As it stands now, the appointed, unelected officials on BOAT are not accountable to the citizens of Ansonia. As it stands now, BOAT can override, as they did this year, the Board of Aldermen’s proposed budget. As it stands now, BOAT doesn’t even publish meeting minutes.
Ansonia’s homes lose value and taxes go up. Ansonia’s grand list shrinks and taxes go up. Ansonia’s city services deteriorate and taxes go up.
It is my hope that on August 13th at 6 PM at City Hall that the citizens of Ansonia who have been asked to fund an unsustainable budget show up for the Charter Revision public hearing and voice their disdain for the current process.
It is time to stand up and speak out. We, the residents of Ansonia must live within our means and so must our government. Please support me in this effort.
Yours truly,
Alderman Charles Stowe
The writer is a Republican representing Ansonia’s Second Ward on the Board of Aldermen. He is running for election in the city’s First Ward.
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