Town of Somers – Charter Revision Commission
EXPLANATORY TEXT
LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS – CHARTER REVISION
State General Election – November 4, 2025
Ballot Question No. 1: Shall the Town Clerk become a hired/appointed rather than elected position?
EXPLANATORY TEXT: The question asks shall the Town Clerk of Somers become a hired/appointed rather than elected position in accordance with the recommendation set forth in the final report of the bipartisan Town Charter Revision Commission? The question requires a choice: YES __ NO __
Under the current Town Charter, the position of the Town Clerk is an elected position with a four-year term in office. The Charter Revision Commission proposed revision recommends that the Town Clerk become an appointed position.
The varied, critical, statute driven responsibilities of the Town Clerk require a qualified professional with knowledge, skills and expertise regarding their responsibilities, along with computer skills for the varied computer software and systems used. Certification in the State of Connecticut takes 3 years to complete. By changing the position to a hired/appointed position, the Town Clerk will be hired based on qualifications and expertise; appointed by a panel who recommends hiring; and reports to the Board of Selectmen. The proposed change would have the appointed Town Clerk serving a four-year term, reviewable annually by the Board of Selectmen. if passed, this change would become effective at the end of the current elected term or the resignation of the incumbent, whichever comes first.
Ballot Question No. 2: Shall the Board of Selectmen hire/appoint a Town Administrator who reports to them and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Town?
EXPLANATORY TEXT: The question asks shall the Board of Selectmen hire/appoint a Town Administrator who reports to them and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Town in accordance with the recommendation set forth in the final report of the bipartisan Town Charter Revision Commission? The question requires a choice: YES __ NO __
The Charter Revision Commission recommended that the Board of Selectmen hire/appoint a Town Administrator who reports to them and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Town.
An appointed (hired) Town Administrator brings expertise and experience in professional management and Government (public) administration providing consistency and continuity of Somers’s administrative operations ensuring that services are delivered effectively and efficiently and assist the Board of Selectmen. This allows the Board of Selectmen to focus on strategic direction and policy. By charter, the First Selectman remains the CEO of the Town, and the new Town Administrator will be the CAO reporting to the Board of Selectman. The proposed change if passed would become effective at the end of the current elected term or resignation of the incumbent, whichever comes first.
Ballot Question No. 3: Shall the Planning and Zoning Commissions be combined into a single appointed body?
EXPLANATORY TEXT: The question asks shall the Planning and Zoning Commissions be combined into a single appointed body in accordance with the recommendation set forth in the final report of the bipartisan Town Charter Revision Commission? The question requires a choice: YES __ NO __
The current Town Charter language states in § 5-5, “There shall be a Planning Commission …” and in § 5-6, “There shall be a Zoning Commission …” Both commissions have five members, serving four-year terms and three alternate members serving one-year terms. Also, both have the powers and duties prescribed by the state’s General Statutes. Having two separate commissions has at times contributed to a disconnect between planning, zoning, and land use policy resulting in duplication, inefficiency, confusion, and frustration for those undertaking efforts to improve development in the community. The Charter Revision Commission recommended that the Planning and Zoning Commissions be combined into a single body with seven members and three alternate members. Eighty-five percent of the cities and towns in Connecticut have a combined Planning and Zoning Commission. The creation of a single commission is designed with the goal of streamlining the application and approval process of land use proposals. If approved the change will be effective January 1, 2026.
Ballot Question No. 4: Shall the upper threshold of an unanticipated expenditure requiring Town Meeting approval be revised from $20,000 to two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) of the Town’s most recently adopted annual budget?
EXPLANATORY TEXT: The question asks shall the upper threshold of an unanticipated expenditure requiring Town Meeng approval be revised from $20,000 to two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) of the Town’s most recently adopted annual budget be revised in accordance with the recommendation set forth in the final report of the bipartisan Town Charter Revision Committee?
YES ___ NO ___
Under § 6-7. Special appropriations in the current Town Charter, when a proposed additional appropriation exceeds the amount prescribed in the state statutes CGS 7-348, approval of a Town Meeting is required. As it pertains to Somers, the amount prescribed in CGS 7-348 is $20,000. This means that whenever an appropriation exceeds the $20,000 threshold that a Town Meeng approval is required. The $20,000 amount in the state statutes was established in 1990 and has not been updated since then. In this Charter amendment, the Commission has recommended substituting a formula rather than a specific dollar amount thus addressing any inflationary effects. The suggested formula would determine the upper limit by taking two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) of the most recently adopted budget (General Fund budget multiplied by 0.2 %). For example, if the most recent adopted budget is $42,000,000, the upper limit would be $84,000 ($42 million X 0.2%) rather than the $20,000. When the cumulative amount of all such appropriations or transfers exceeds the limit within a fiscal year any other transfers or such appropriations must be approved at a Town Meeting.
Ballot Question No. 5: Shall an appointee to a vacancy in an elective office serve for the remainder of the elected term rather than until the next election?
EXPLANATORY TEXT: The question asks shall an appointee to a vacancy in an elective office serve for the remainder of the elected term rather than until the next election in accordance with the recommendation set forth in the final report of the bipartisan Town Charter Revision Commission? The question requires a choice: YES ___ NO ___
Under the current Town Charter, an appointee to a vacancy in an elective office shall serve until a successor, elected at a special election or at the next regular town election qualifies. The Charter Revision Commission proposed revision recommends that the appointee selected to fill an unexpired term in elective office shall serve the remainder of the term, negating the need for a special election or an election to fill a partial term. Adopting this change simplifies the vacancy process and addresses voter confusion over partial terms in office appearing on the election ballot.
TOWN OF SOMERS Legal Notice, Board of Selectmen, Public Hearing on Charter Revision
TOWN OF SOMERS Legal Notice, Board of Selectmen, Public Hearing on Charter Revision
The Somers Board of Selectmen will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 6:00pm in the
Somers Town Hall Auditorium, 600 Main Street, Somers, CT to receive public comments on the following proposed Charter Revision questions:
1. Shall the Town Clerk become an appointed rather than an elected position?
2. Shall the Board of Selectmen appoint a Town Administrator who reports to them and oversees day-to-day operations of the Town?
3. Shall the Zoning and Planning Boards be combined into a single appointed body?
4. Shall the dollar amount over which a special appropriation exceeds thus requiring approval by vote of a Town Meeting be revised?
5. Shall appointments to fill mid-term vacancies change from “until the next election” to “the end of the elected term”?
Said proposed questions are on file in the Town Clerk’s office of the Town of Somers, Somers Town Hall I. At this hearing, interested persons may be heard and written communications may be sent to [email protected].
Dated at Somers, Connecticut this 14th day of July, 2025.
Publication Date: July 18, 2025
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Timothy Keeney, First Selectman Bill Meier 111, Selectman
Bob Schmidt, Selectman