#Middlebury #TownCharter
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
The vote on the latest Middlebury Town Charter revisions tops the November 3 ballot. If the vote to approve the proposed revisions passes, the first selectman elected in 2021 will serve a four-year term instead of the current two-year term.
He or she also will not be limited to five terms. The proposed revisions drop the following text that was new to the charter in 2012: Section 202 A – No individual shall serve as First Selectman for more than five (5) consecutive terms.
Under the current charter First Selectman Edward B. St. John, who is in his fifth term since returning from retirement in 2011, would be ineligible to run for re-election in 2021. If the revisions pass, he can run for re-election next year. Asked about term limits, he responded, “Aren’t voters the best judge?”
Under the proposed revisions, if St. John runs and is elected first selectman in 2021, he will serve for four years and will be eligible to run for additional four-year terms. St John said that was not the point of the revisions.
He said of the four-year term, “My big concern is a new person needs four years to learn the job.” And when the first selectman’s four-year term is coupled with the selectmen changing to four-year terms midway through the first selectman’s term as outlined below, he said it avoids a situation in which the town has three new officials at the same time. With the staggered terms he said, “You always have history.”
We asked Charter Revision Commission Chairman Michael McVerry why term limits were dropped. He said he thought the sense of the Commission was they weren’t needed. He said voters determine who stays in office and how long they serve. They can always vote someone out of office if they choose.
The revisions also prohibit being a candidate for both selectman and first selectman during the same election cycle, doing away with the current situation in which a candidate running for first selectman can become a selectman should s/he receive more votes than a candidate for selectman.
Under the proposed revisions, the selectmen’s terms increase to four years, but that change doesn’t take effect until November 7, 2023. The result will be the two selectmen will be elected midway through the first selectman’s term.
Explanatory text for all the proposed revisions is available at the town clerk’s office and on the town website, middlebury-ct.org. If voters approve the revisions, they will become effective December 1, 2020.
Other items on the ballot are candidates for president, congressional representatives, state senator and state representative.
Middlebury District 1 covers Congressional District 5, Senatorial District 32, and Assembly District 71. In addition to the presidential candidates, incumbent Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D) is opposed by David X. Sullivan (R) and Bruce W. Walczak (I). Incumbent State Senator Eric C. Berthel (R) is opposed by Jeffrey Desmarais (D), and incumbent State Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio (R) is running unopposed.
Middlebury District 2 covers Congressional District 5, Senatorial District 15 and Assembly District 71. In addition to the presidential candidates, incumbent Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D) is opposed by David X. Sullivan (R) and Bruce W. Walczak (I). Incumbent State Senator Joan V. Hartley (R) is running unopposed, as is incumbent State Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio (R).
Both districts will vote at Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury. The polls will be open Tuesday, November 3, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Due to the large number of absentee ballots being submitted this year because of COVID-19, it’s not clear when the November 3 voting results will be available. As of October 20, 1,426 voters had applied for absentee ballots and 919 ballots had been returned.
Requests from Democrats were highest – 532. Unaffiliated voters were next with 491 requesting absentee ballots, and 390 Republicans requested absentee ballots. Thirteen overseas ballots were requested.
As of October 28, Town Clerk Brigitte Bessette said a total of 1,573 absentee ballots had been issued and 1,220 of those had been returned.
UPDATED: 10/29/2020 at 11 a.m. to correct paragraph 7 statement regarding candidates for first selectman and selectman.
