Politics & Government

Stamford's Charter Revision Commission Discusses Minority Report

The 17th Charter Revision Committee discussed its plans against dissension at its most recent meeting.

The 17th Charter Revision Commission agreed that they did not want to prepare a minority report for eventual charter revision dissensions on Thursday night at the .

Commission co-chair Jay H. Sandak called the 7 p.m. meeting to order shortly after 7:00 p.m., and the started the meeting where the commission's Nov. 30 meeting left off. "Last week, there was an issue that was raised about the end of this whole process, whether or not we were going to have a minority report not not," Sandak said. "We decided that it would be a good idea to have that discussion before issues arise."

Sandak explained that the process of submitting a minority report involved rendering a draft report to the Board of Representatives Charter Committee, who would provide their feedback on the draft before giving it back to the Charter Revision Commission, who would issue a final report.

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"I don't have a problem with a minority report, but there are two issues I'd like to throw out," commission member Donald Sherer said. "Even if we have a heated debate over an issue, our draft, between then and the time that the Board of Representatives assesses our draft and gives us their position, it gives that dissension time to calm down."

"I would be inclined to not have a minority report," Williams said. "I think there is going to be dissension on every point; what triggers having a minority report unless we file one on almost every question?"

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"I didn't think it [a minority report] was necessary," Williams told Patch after the meeting.

The commission asked further questions in regards to the process of issuing a minority report, but most were in agreement that a minor report was closer to being a final measure to deal with charter revision disagreements, not a first measure.

"Do we want to amend our rules of order to provide for a minority report," Sandak asked the commission. If the sense of this body is that we don't want to have a minority report, we don't need a motion on it." Sandak then put the prospect of amending the rules of order to a vote, and no one was in favor.

The commission moved swiftly through the rest of it's agenda, which included scheduling items for the next meeting, and adjourned at 8:20. According to Williams, the 17th Charter Revision Commission's recommendations are due to the Board of Representatives in mid-2012.

Williams, who is new to the commission, already recognizes what issues the commission in the coming year. "I think there's issues around governmental structure, and fire safety," Williams said.


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