Former First Selectman Kevin Monahan urges stronger executive role and targeted charter tweaks
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Summary
Kevin Monahan, a former First Selectman, told New Canaan's Charter Review Commission the town should strengthen the First Selectman's authority, consider an operations manager instead of a full town administrator, and adopt select targeted charter changes rather than wholesale reform.
Kevin Monahan, former First Selectman, told the New Canaan Charter Review Commission he favors focused charter changes that strengthen executive authority while preserving local accountability. "I recommend strengthening the role and authority of the First Selectman," Monahan said, urging the commission to study models used in neighboring towns such as Greenwich and Westport.
Monahan argued that some adjacent suburbs have evolved toward a quasi-mayor model, where the First Selectman has clearer supervisory authority over department heads. He suggested practical steps: make the First Selectman chair of certain commissions, clarify ex‑officio seats, and add an operations manager role to provide day‑to‑day continuity and professional support. "Having someone who the First Selectman can bring in with him or her ... is perhaps a good approach," he said.
On the scope of change, Monahan advised incremental reform. He recommended keeping the Board of Selectmen at three members to preserve public deliberation, avoiding informal caucusing that can occur when larger bodies meet in private prior to public votes. He also proposed considering a hybrid council model with district and at‑large members to increase accountability in some seats while retaining townwide representation.
Monahan also recommended shifting selected administrative responsibilities — for example, making the Board of Selectmen the town's traffic authority so the board decides after police recommendations; restructuring Water Pollution Control Authority oversight; and adding preservation and conservation objectives to the charter to protect downtown character. He cautioned against hastily adopting a full town administrator model, saying it can reduce elected officials' direct public access and be hard to reverse.
The commission discussed legal and practical constraints, and several members asked for examples and follow‑up research on how Westport, Greenwich and other towns structure these roles. Monahan agreed to share written materials and follow up with the commission.