Community Corner
A New Era for Police and Fire? Charter Revision Commission OKs Changes
In a brief meeting on Wednesday evening, members of the commission voted along party lines to approve a change that would eliminate the police and fire commissions, instead establishing advisory boards instead.
After months of debate and discussions regarding the fate of the town’s police and fire commissions, it took just a few minutes before the lines were drawn and the Republican members of the Southington Charter Revision Commission ultimately passed a measure that would change oversight for both departments.
The commission voted 3-2, with Democrats Dennis Conroy and Bruce “Zeke” Zalaski opposed, to eliminate the commissions and replace them with two five-member advisory boards. The police and fire chief would then be responsible to the town manager rather than the commissions under the change.
“The committees there have been great and they will still be there to work with chief and support the department, but ultimately this change would have the chiefs answering to the town manager,” said Andrew Meade, Republican commission member.
“It makes our town government centralized and if the advisory has any problems at all, they can report it directly to the town council,” he said. “This is the right thing to do.”
The change is not immediately effective – there is still a lengthy process that includes a public hearing before the commission and the need for the Southington Town Council to approve the measure and send it to referendum – and ultimately the final decision will belong to the voters.
But Conroy said Wednesday that he simply cannot support the measure, saying that in the two months the commission has met, he’s seen no indication that there is a need for change.
“I’ve heard and seen nothing to show there is a need for change,” he said. “If there is a problem with individuals then that belongs to majority party that appointed them, they can make that change.”
The commission will hold a public hearing next Wednesday, June 5, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Southington Town Hall.
What is your take on the commission’s change? Is it the right move? Should the police and fire commissions remain active as they currently are? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
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