Politics & Government

CTA To File Suit Against Clinton Board Of Selectmen

The Clinton Taxpayers Association plans to sue town officials over alleged town charter violations.

 

A message from the Clinton Taxpayers Association:

The Clinton Taxpayers Association (CTA) has filed a writ of mandamus to compel the Clinton Board of Selectmen (BOS) to place the CTA’s petition for a town meeting immediately on the BOS agenda. 

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The petition calls for a reduction of the $64.75 million new Morgan referendum passed on April 11. 

"The refusal to place our petition that had been validated by town counsel, with an adequate number of signatures certified by the Town Clerk,  is a denial of the rights of citizens to petition as guaranteed by Clinton's Town Charter," asserted Pamela Fritz, CTA's president.   

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The issue transcends the question of a new school.  It’s about following the Town Charter,” said Pam Fritz.  

She continued, "The Board of Selectmen have refused to take action on the petition, refused to call a special town meeting, refused public discussion of the petition and refused to place the petition on the agenda of a Selectmen’s meeting.  It seems the Board of Selectmen are ignoring the fact that Clinton has a town meeting form of government and we, the citizens, are the legislative body.”

“We are simply defending our citizens' rights to petition under the Town Charter.  This principal is fundamental to democracy.  What the First Selectman did by unilaterally canceling the scheduled June 26 Town Meeting and the subsequent roadblocking of the inclusion of the petition on the BOS agenda on June 27 diametrically opposes our Town Charter.  We are confident the court will agree," said Pam Fritz.

The CTA is able to continue its fight with the generous financial support of over 100 supporters who continue to tangibly support the CTA's efforts.   

"The First Selectman's claim that the new high school will cost the average taxpayer just $90 per year is inaccurate.  It will in fact cost each taxpayer about 9% of their current tax bill annually for 20 years.  That's on top of the fact that Clinton has the highest mill rate and the second highest annual cost per student of our shoreline neighboring towns," points out Len Fried, CTA Morgan Task Force Chair.

The CTA exhausted every political and communications avenue before taking this step; but there appears to be no other avenue to resolve this charter crisis.

"The stakes in terms of cost to taxpayers and in demanding good governance are too high to let the Board of Selectmen violate their oaths of office to fulfill our democratically established Town Charter," concluded Pam Fritz.

 

Editor's note: CTA President Pam Fritz is not related to Clinton First Selectman Willie Fritz.


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