Politics & Government

Stamford Voters: Here Are The November Questions

Voters will be facing nine questions regarding numerous proposed changes to the city charter. Stamford Patch breaks down what you'll have before you in the voting booth.

A breakdown of what will be on the ballots can be found below. Votes can find the whole Charter with recommended changes appearing in red in this Charter Revision publication. It is also included as a PDF above. Here is the resolution presenting the nine questions. Finally, this document breaks down each and every recommendation by the Commission.

While voters can go through each of these documents, Stamford Patch is here to present the information all in one place.

Voter Question Number What it proposes or changes CRC Vote Number & Procedural Reference Recommendation wording examples (Some questions will refer to multiple instances of change) Question 1 Revise the Charter to make certain technical, grammatical, administrative and procedural changes and revisions. Vote 13, Audit Process "This recommendation would extend the Annual Audit Report delivery deadline by the BOF to the Mayor's Office and the BOR by one month, until October 31).(Currently it is due by September 30th.)" Question 2

Revise the Charter to create a single combined Fire Department including the following :

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  1. Creating a single fire department composed of career and volunteer firefighters with a single Chief and single Fire Marshal.
  2. Creating the positions of Assistant Fire Chief for Career Services and Assistant Fire Chief for Volunteer Services.
  3. Acknowledging that the Volunteer Departments are an important component of the new combined Department.
Vote 115, Fire Department

"This recommendation would create a single fire department with a single chief with jurisdiction over all fire services training, standard operating procedures, assignments of personnel and allocation of other resources citywide. A combined fire fighting service would be created to be known as the "Stamford Fire Department" with a single Chief, two paid Assistant Chiefs (one for Career Services and the other for Volunteer Services)."

Question 3

Revise the Charter to establish, by Charter, the Water Pollution Control Authority and to ensure that the provisions concerning the WPCA comply with State law.

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Vote 66, WPCA

"This recommendation would establish a new and separate Charter section recognizing the WPCA as an entity that exits by state statute and organized and managed by city ordinance. The WPCA shall, along with the aid and support of the Director of Operations, carry out its responsibilities."

Question 4

Revise the Charter to create a Historic Preservation Advisory Commission.

Vote 100, Historical Preservation

"This recommendation would establish an Historic Preservation Advisory Commission which would serve in an advisory role only to all land use boards. The composition, membership and method of appointment of the Commission will lie with an ordinance to be enacted by the BOR. (Currently there are no Charter provisions for an Historical Preservation Commission.)"

Question 5

Create, by Charter, a Board of Ethics and mandate a City Code of Ethics.

Vote number 110c, Board of Ethics

"This recommendation provides that the powers of the Board of Ethics are limited to investigate and adjudicate violations of the Code of Ethics brought to its attention."

Question 6

Revise the Charter to clarify that the Board of Finance's authority is limited to fiscal matters only.

Vote 9, Board of Finance limitations

"This recommendation would amend Charter Sec. C6-20-7 and C6-20-9 relating to the powers of the BOF to specifically limit the powers of the Board of Finance to only matters relating to fiscal policy and financial matters."

Question 7

Revise the Charter to limit the service of any one individual to a single elected position, excluding Constables.

Vote 70, limits on elected positions

"This recommendation would limit the service to one elected municipal position. (Currently there is no restriction on serving on multiple elected boards.)"

Question 8

Revise the Charter to add a Preamble to the Charter concerning Citizen's Rights.

Vote 140, Citizen's Rights

"This recommendation adds language as a Preamble to the Charter which would give citizens certain rights and access to city government and to participate in city government. (The current Charter is devoid of any language to provide citizens certain rights.)"

Question 9

Revise the Charter to change the term of office for Constables from two years to four years.

Vote 71, Constables

"This recommendation would change the term of constables from two to four years."


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