Opinion
Wilton Bulletin Editorial: Charter vote redux

Mar 27, 2008

(Due to a production error, the full text of this editorial was left out of the March 27 edition of The Bulletin. It is reprinted in its entirety below. The Bulletin apologizes for the error.)

The Board of Selectmen has made the right choice in deciding to hold a special meeting to confirm each selectman’s vote for the members of the Charter Commission.

The charter — the town’s Constitution — will have important changes to be considered, so it is vital the commission be viewed as completely and irrefutably legal and proper in the eyes of residents.

While questions of partisanship were raised by a member of the board and other Democrats last week, we have the utmost confidence that the commissioners appointed to review the charter will bring the same objective neutrality to the mission as they have to past endeavors for the town.

Each of the nine members is a well liked and well respected member of the community, and if they follow past actions, their decisions and deliberations will be based on what is best for the town, not for one party or the other.

Residents would be wise to follow the charter deliberations closely, however, as once complete the recommendations of the commission must be voted on in full by the selectmen, or rejected outright before going to a town meeting for adoption. There is no “Chinese menu” option on the charter, so if something is included that voters won’t support, the whole process could be for naught.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers