On Election Day (Nov. 4) Ansonia voters could make big changes to the way the city is governed through four possible changes to the city’s charter on the ballot.
Depending on how the votes go, the city could slash its number of wards and aldermen, as well as give elected officials more responsibility as to how the city allocates the tens of millions of dollars it spends annually.
A city charter is essentially a blueprint for the structure and function of a local government.
The Board of Aldermen appointed a charter revision commission in January, asking them to suggest how to make the mayor more active in putting the budget together and create more “checks and balances,” among other suggestions.
The suggestions were based mainly on elements of Mayor David Cassetti’s campaign platform during his run for mayor last year. Cassetti and the Republicans took the mayor’s office and the Board of Aldermen in last year’s election.
The commission eventually suggested changes to a number of areas, most significantly:
- Reducing the number of political wards in the city from seven to three;
- Reducing the number of aldermen from 14 to nine;
- Aldermen, not the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, would have the final say over the city’s budget.
The referendum questions, as they will appear on the ballot on Election Day, ask voters:
(Note: the first question on the ballot is a statewide question asking a question regarding the state constitution. Click here for a Courant story on the question.)
2. Shall the Ansonia City Charter be amended to reduce the number of Wards to three (3) and the number of Aldermen to nine (9)?
3. Shall the Ansonia City Charter be amended to modify the budget process, including the following: (1) requiring the Mayor to submit an annual budget proposal; (2) requiring the Board of Aldermen to approve the budget recommended by the appointed Board of Apportionment and Taxation; and (3) providing Board of Aldermen oversight of budget transfers?
4. Shall the Ansonia City Charter be amended to clarify and modify the duties of the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen?
5. Shall the Ansonia City Charter be amended to correct grammar, spelling, terminology, statutory references, and outdated provisions of the Charter, resolve inconsistencies, and make other technical changes and revisions as recommended by the Charter Revision Commission?
More Info, Links
The charter, with proposed revisions, is posted below.
Click here to read an Aug. 19 Valley Indy story about the proposed changes.
Click here to watch videos from a public hearing on the proposals and read an Aug. 20 Valley Indy story about the changes.
Click here to read about Aldermen debating the revisions and voting Aug. 26 to send them to voters as proposed by the Charter Revision Commission.
Click here to read a guest column asking voters to vote ‘No’ on the changes written by a former chairman of the city’s tax board.
Click here to read a guest column asking voters to vote ‘Yes’ on the changes written by a current Alderman.
Click here to read a guest column asking voters to vote ‘Yes’ on ballot question 2 written by the city’s Republican Registrar of Voters.
