New Plan For Minutes Shot Down
By Ann Marie Somma
Courant Staff Writer
January 5 2006
WETHERSFIELD -- The way the town reports its meeting minutes will not change, despite a proposal by the town clerk to streamline the information to save time and money.
The town council on Tuesday did not endorse Dolores Sassano's proposal to reduce council, board and commission minutes into an abbreviated format.
The format would have included the location, date and time of meeting, those in attendance, the text of motions and how each member voted, all required under the Freedom of Information Act. Rocky Hill uses a similar format.
"We are leaving the minutes as they have historically been," said Mayor Russ Morin on Wednesday. "There is a value placed on them. We prefer more information than less. "
Several residents raised concerns about the proposal. Resident Ken Sokolowski, who runs the website Wethersfield.net, has said the format would have dumbed down the electorate.
Sassano has said the new format would have given staff members who transcribe minutes more time for other duties.
State law requires towns to make motions and votes public within 48 hours and minutes of town meetings public within seven business days.
Original link: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hr/hc-wetminutes0105.artjan05,0,77306.story
(c) 2006, Hartford Courant
