Residents Turnout for Board of Finance
CROMWELL - The Charter Review Commission did not even get to discussing the Board of Finance matter at its regular meeting last night, and that was partly because a crowd of residents that packed room 224 in Town Hall had plenty to say about it.

       Commissioners fielded public comment from residents advocating for the retention of the Board-as well as all of its powers-for almost an hour into the session. The long list of speakers included current and former Board of Finance members, as well as the town’s first ever selectwoman.

       â€"I like the checks and balances in our town,” said former Selectwoman Mertie Terry, who read a lengthy letter into the record as her statement. â€"I like the fact that decisions that impact our town have another set of eyes looking at them. Have I always agreed with the Board of Finance decisions? Of course not-as anyone sitting in the Town Manager’s or Mayor’s seat will agree-but that is what democracy is all about.”

       The litany of public comment comes at a time in which the Commission is trying to decide how to restructure the town’s budget process. Chair Mike Camilleri has indicated that the body is already shifting away from an earlier proposal that would have abolished the Board, but commissioners discussed the possibility of shifting the final budget vote over to the Town Council during its last meeting.

       â€"They’ve done their job well,” said Cromwell resident Alice Kelly. â€"I don’t think there should be any change whatsoever.”

       Currently, the Town Manager works with his department heads to form a budget proposal that is then forwarded to the Council. The Council makes adjustments, and then moves the recommended appropriation to the BOF for a final review.

       Assuming the proposal passes referendum, the BOF then has five days to set the town’s Mill Rate.

       The Commission had explored eliminating the BOF as a way of â€"streamlining” a process that Mayor Enzo Faienza had said has become â€"redundant”. At its previous meeting, the Commission discussed holding joint meetings between the Council and BOF in an effort to mitigate that, but the conversation shifted to who should get the final vote.

       Faienza and Town Manager Tony Salvatore suggested the Council, since members are often the first to field any resident concerns regarding the final expenditure.

       But residents who spoke during the August 3 meeting felt differently, pointing to the fact that the BOF can focus strictly on finances, while the Council is being pulled in multiple directions by a wider scope of responsibilities.

       Others referred to the proposal as a â€"consolidation of power”.

       â€"While I trust the people at the reins, in the future it could be different people,” said Cromwell resident James DeMetriades.

       The issue was raised because a Charter revision is the opportune time to at least discuss these things, Faienza said over the phone the next day.

       â€"If we don’t talk about it now, when do we talk about it?” he said. â€"In the end, what happens happens. Whatever they [the Charter Commission] decides, I’ll honor it.”

       While wanting to retain the Board of Finance as a check and balance entity is understandable, people should not underestimate the Council’s ability to handle the budget, Faienza said.

       â€"I can tell you the budget process inside and out, as can other members of the Council,” he said. â€"Everyone is capable.”

      

      
STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA   |  Aug 05 2016  |  COMMENTS?