Proposed Ordinance Would Require Referendum for Large Expenditures

Hoping to prevent a “rogue council” from miring the town in expensive lease projects without the consent of South Windsor residents, Mayor Saud Anwar has proposed a new ordinance that would require a referendum for leases and expenditures of more than $1 million.

The Town Council voted to set a public hearing on the proposed ordinance for Feb. 17, at which time residents are invited to speak for or against the proposal.

Anwar explained the proposed ordinance at the Dec. 2 meeting.

“When we discuss lease purchase activity, there is the risk the council can go around the wishes of the general public. At the same time, we do recognize this is a tool that allows us to do many things. … In view of trying to keep the balance, in trying to make sure we allow the town to use this tool for getting the job done for things that require it … but we want to make sure we control ourselves as town councilors. If we go above a certain dollar amount, we are answerable to the community.”

Anwar’s fellow council members voiced concerns about whether the ordinance, if passed, would hinder the town’s ability to respond to emergencies, including natural disasters or facilities projects.

Councilor Jan Snyder pointed to the October 2011 snowstorm that required a multimillion-dollar cleanup.

“My concern is that if something happens in our municipality that requires an emergency decision or something has to be repaired, having to set a referendum to do capital repairs … [we may] not be able to take the action that we need,” she said.

A clause was added to the ordinance draft allowing for such expenditures in cases of emergency but the council, manager and town attorney were unclear as to whether that would apply only to emergencies declared by the governor. Anwar said the wording could be tweaked for clarity.

Furthermore, Snyder repeated the sentiment that councilors are entrusted with the power to make decisions for the town.

“The Town Council has a job to do and there are nine of us up here. We don’t want to do anything bad for the town. We work together with the town manager and police chief and we have a great staff that can help us make decisions,” Snyder said.

Councilor Keith Yagaloff said he could not support the ordinance as drafted because it allows for such large-ticket items to be passed as part of the budget.

“The exception allows the council to do whatever it wants on budget-setting night. We shouldn’t have a policy that allows the council by a 5-4 vote to do on one night what it can’t do on any other night of the year,” Yagaloff said.

The ordinance also exempts redevelopment from the measure.

In order to iron out the wording of the ordinance, the public hearing date was pushed back to Feb. 17.

“Computers, photocopiers and those things that sometimes come up, we will be able to get those things," Anwar said. “This is not going to restrict the capacity to do what we’re doing but it will keep a check on us – we don’t want renegade town councils.”