49°
To the Editor:
Recent news that Norwalk city charter revision is “not going to happen” this year highlights the importance of the League of Women Voters’ forum this Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Community Room.
As various officials have said, charter revision is a very complex task. It may seem straightforward, for example, to increase the mayoral term from two years to four – until you realize the implications for all of the other elected offices on the ballot, voter turnout and so forth.
It might also seem simple to update the charter’s language to refer to “Council member” instead of “Councilman” – but even this could be fraught with pitfalls as one change might lead to others resulting in unclear or misleading language.
At the other extreme, instituting a City Manager form of government, which some have advocated, would be a sweeping change with vast implications across the board.
A city charter, like a constitution, can be changed only by a lengthy and thorough process. There is always a risk of unintended consequences or opening the proverbial can of worms.
Yet sooner or later Norwalk’s charter, being more than a century old, is going to need modifications to keep up with the times.
Charter revision is a conversation worth having.
The League invites everyone who cares about how Norwalk is governed to attend the forum, which will include comments by the registrars of voters, a representative of the Connecticut Town and City Management Association, and concerned citizens John Hamlin and Peter I. Berman.
Sincerely,
Elsa Peterson Obuchowski
Steering Committee Member, League of Women Voters of Norwalk
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