CGS- Sec 7-503. Chapter grants no authority for municipality to acquire, own, develop or improve real property outside its borders. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to give authority to a municupality to proceed under this chapter to aquire, own, develop or otherwise improve real property outside of its own borders.
There is a statute that requires a town meeting pertaining to the sale, lease or purchase of property. This statute is more in line with the purchase of out of an state property.
THE PRINCE OF HOLLYWOOD: I DON'T NEED NOT STINKING MEETING OR VOTE FROM ANYONE. I ALREADY HAVE THE AUTHORITY, I'M IN CHARGE. I'M THE SELECTMAN AND BY A TOWN MEETING WITH 48 PEOPLE AND A REFERENDUM I WAS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND $1.2 MILLION ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.
THERE ARE ALWAYS THE NAY SAYERS AND THERE ALWAYS WILL BE ... THEY DON'T LIKE ANYTHING THAT I DO. THEY WANT ME TO BEG AND GROVEL ... EVEN THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT STATED WE DON'T NEED THIS TOWER.
Last week the front page headline of the Citizen News read “BoS Purchase Tower Hill Emergency Communications Tower.” This headline is incorrect. The First Selectman, John Hodge, purchased the tower – all by himself. It may seem like semantics to many people because he is a member of the Board of Selectmen, but there is a clear distinction. In New Fairfield, our form of government (as outlined in Connecticut State statutes) divides decision making authority into several key boards, other committees and the legislative body (i.e., the taxpayers acting through a town meeting). Inherent in this form of government is a check and balance system that is set up so that no single individual can act autonomously.
Unfortunately, the communications tower purchase illustrates that this system is failing in New Fairfield for the following reasons: the Board of Selectmen never voted to purchase this tower; the Town’s Planning Commission was never presented with the proposed purchase so that it could be reviewed and approved; the Board of Finance was not advised of the purchase and therefore could not make any finance-related recommendations; and, although the taxpayers voted for an upgrade to the communications system, they never voted to purchase land in another state to see the system’s implementation through. Regardless of how this project turns out – one thing remains clear. Real success lies in the ability to “get things done” in the proper manner. This may take a little longer perhaps but guarantees a truly democratic form of government and a better outcome for us all.
Bottom line – Mr. Hodge did not have the authority to purchase this tower. The purchase was illegal.
Monika Thiel
Selectman
Tel.
203-746-0288
The sale, lease or purchase of any property by a municipality must be approved by a town vote. Not just a vote by the selectmen.
