Nobody Told Me That…

Referendum Questions on the Municipal Ballot –November 3, 2009

This article is the first of two about the November ballot. It focuses on the two referendum items on the ballot—package store permits and charter revision. The second will contain general information on the candidate races and general voting procedures.

First, after 1232 registered voters signed a petition this summer, the Board of Selectmen approved the following referendum item to be placed on the municipal election ballot.  The question on the ballot will read “Shall the sale of alcohol/liquor under Package Store Permits be permitted in Wilton?”

According to Title 30 of Connecticut’s General Statutes, Section 30-20, of the state’s Liquor Control Act, a package store permit allows the retail sale of alcoholic liquor as well as related items, like bar utensils, and other merchandise such as cigarettes and lottery tickets under state licensing regulations.  It also allows free sampling for tasting on the premises during regular business hours and, under related state regulations, home delivery only to those of legal drinking age.  In  accordance with Sec. 30-14a of the Liquor Control Act, the Department of Consumer Protection may issue one package store permit for every 2500 residents of a town as determined by the most recently completed decennial census. For Wilton, with its population of 17,633, this means that no more than 7 stores would be allowed. The location of any package stores would be subject to Wilton’s planning and zoning and land use regulations. Holders of package store permits are not allowed to sell food items. The question on the November ballot does not include an option for grocery store beer permits. 

The second referendum item approved by the Board of Selectmen will read “Shall the revised Town of Wilton Charter, dated August 10, 2009, as drafted by the Charter Commission and submitted to the Board of Selectmen, be approved?”

Wilton voters will decide whether a revision of the Town Charter, a document which provides for the structure of Town government, should be approved.  Wilton’s first Charter was adopted in 1962 and has been revised several times in the intervening years and approved in 1992.   

Each revision, including this year’s proposal, has retained the traditional Selectmen/Town Meeting form of government, with only minor adjustments. The commission has proposed that the election of the first selectman be separated from that of the other members of the Board of Selectmen. The commission has also proposed that the term of office for first selectman be increased to 4 years, with no term limits. Because the office of first selectman will be a completely separate race, an unsuccessful candidate for first selectman will not be seated on the Board of Selectmen.  

Additionally, the Board of Selectmen’s terms of office will be extended from two to four years, will be staggered to assure institutional knowledge, and will be limited to two full terms, except for the first selectman, as noted above.

Also, in the proposal, the Board of Finance will retain the power to reduce the bottom lines of both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education budgets.  However, a decision of the Board of Finance to change a particular line item only in the Board of Selectmen’s budget may be overruled by a super-majority vote—4 to 1—of the selectmen, provided that the bottom line established by the Board of Finance remains the same.

The Wilton League of Women Voters did not study the budget process and, therefore, has no position on that particular issue.   However, because the proposed Charter revisions agree with the recommendations of the League’s Town Government Study with regard to the Board of Selectmen, the League supports an affirmative vote on November 3^rd.

For a copy of the full proposal and a summary of other specific changes, you may visit the Town of Wilton web page:   http://www.wiltonct.org/ .