R E G I O N A
L L A N D U S E P R
O P O S A L S F R O M T H E C .
G. A .
This issue has developed in Connecticut over the years in a number of ways extending to many functions - on a voluntary basis.
THE CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION...
ARTICLE TENTH: OF HOME RULE.
SEC. 1. The general assembly
shall by general law delegate such legislative authority as from time to
time it deems appropriate to towns, cities and boroughs relative to the
powers, organization, and form of government of such political
subdivisions. The general assembly shall from time to time by general
law determine the maximum terms of office of the various town, city and
borough elective offices. After July 1, 1969, the general assembly shall
enact no special legislation relative to the powers, organization,
terms of elective offices or form of government of any single town, city
or borough, except as to (a) borrowing power, (b) validating acts, and
(c) formation, consolidation or dissolution of any town, city or
borough, unless in the delegation of legislative authority by general
law the general assembly shall have failed to prescribe the powers
necessary to effect the purpose of such special legislation.
SEC. 2. The general assembly
may prescribe the methods by which towns, cities and boroughs may
establish regional governments and the methods by which towns, cities,
boroughs and regional governments may enter into compacts. The general
assembly shall prescribe the powers, organization, form, and method of
dissolution of any government so established.
2020 SESSION
As the Short Session begins, we note the following bill from Planning & Development: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2020/TOB/h/pdf/2020HB-05132-R00-HB.PDF
Sometimes Westonites are interested in other ares...such as:
REGIONAL DISPATCH incentive:
We note this bill: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB5086&which_year=2020
ONLINE GAMBLING: Back for another try...probably will be another bill as well...Hartford COURANT Feb. 18, 2020 Editorial on the subject.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB21&which_year=2020
2019 SESSION
Sec. 366 of the Implementer established a task force to report back Feb. 5, 2020 on a number of items:
Sec. 366. (NEW) (Effective from passage)
(a) There is established a task force to study ways to
encourage greater and improved collaboration among the state and
municipal governments and regional bodies. Such study shall include, but
not be limited to, (1) the examination of functions, activities or
services, currently performed by municipalities individually, that might
be more efficiently performed by the Office of Policy and Management on
behalf of municipalities willing to opt in or opt out of accepting such
performance on their behalf, (2) the examination of functions,
activities or services, currently performed by the state or
municipalities that might be provided in a more efficient, high-quality,
cost-effective or responsive manner by regional councils of
governments, regional educational service centers or other similar
regional bodies that are responsive to residents, (3) cost savings of
government services, including, but not limited to, joint purchasing,
for a municipality and its local or regional school district, (4) cost
savings through the sharing of government services, including, but not
limited to, joint purchasing, among municipalities, (5) the
standardization and alignment of various regions of the state, (6)
analyses of any other initiatives that might facilitate the delivery of
services in a more efficient, high-quality, cost-effective or responsive
manner, and (7) a recommendation of the division, if any, of revenue in
the regionalization subaccount within the regional planning incentive
account established under section 4-66k of the general statutes, between
the Office of Policy and Management and the regional councils of
governments, regional educational service centers or similar regional
bodies for the purposes of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.
Any initiative recommended to be undertaken by the task force shall be
offered to municipalities on a voluntary basis.
(b) The task force shall consist of (1) the Secretary of the Office of
Policy and Management or the secretary's designee, (2) the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
planning and development and finance, revenue and bonding, or their designees, and (3) the members of the Connecticut Advisory
Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, established under
section 2-79a of the general statutes.
(c) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance,
revenue and bonding shall serve as administrative staff of the task
force. The Office of Policy and Management shall provide additional support to the task force as necessary.
(d) Not later than February 5, 2020, the task force shall submit a
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
general
statutes, on its findings and recommendations for any legislative
changes to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to planning and development and
finance, revenue and bonding. The task force shall terminate on the date
that it submits such report or February 5, 2020, whichever is later.
(e) On and after July 1, 2020, and in accordance with the findings and
recommendations of the task force under this section, the Secretary of
the Office of Policy and Management shall commence offering the
performance of any functions, activities or services recommended
under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.
(f) The secretary shall establish requirements of and procedures and
guidelines for the performance of functions, activities or services
under subsection (a) of this section, the amounts of any grants to be
awarded and deadlines for application submissions and final selection of
grant recipients. The secretary may also establish fees to be charged
to municipalities that opt to participate in any functions, activities
or services offered under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this
section.
(g) Any regional council of governments, regional educational service
center or other similar regional body offering any functions, activities
or services under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section may
establish fees to be charged to municipalities that opt to participate
in such functions, activities or services.
We note that the Weston Board of Selectmen, related to "Home Rule," has an opinion which agrees with the LWVCT position: http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/SelectmenResponseSchoolRegionalization.pdf
LONG SESSION 2019 - Planning & Development Committee activity:
HB6749: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/BA/pdf/2019HB-06749-R010904-BA.pdf
Passed in the House, no action taken in Senate.
C T R E G I O N A L I S M B A C K G R O U N D
Sources from the League of Women Voters of Weston website: mailto:webmaster@lwvweston.org
The story in 2004
http://www.lwvweston.org/regionalism.html
Many useful links
http://www.lwvweston.org/housing.html
Local government cooperative ventures
http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2985&q=383076