New Canaan Charter Revision Group Reviews Article 5: Board of Finance, Pensions, WPCA and Audit Committee

Kathleen Corbett, a member of the Charter Revision Commission (Group 2), opened a Feb. 9 Zoom meeting saying the group would focus on Article 5 of New Canaan’s charter — the provisions that govern the Board of Finance, financial procedures, taxes and the audit committee. Corbett called roll and named several participants and Board of Finance representatives who joined the discussion.

The session reviewed the Board of Finance’s composition and eligibility rules. Corbett read the charter language that sets eight regular members and three alternates and reminded attendees that, in an earlier revision, voters rejected a change that would have required board members to be property-owning taxpayers. As Corbett noted, the text still requires minority political-party representation: “there shall be minority representation, as defined under section 9-7a of the General Statutes,” meaning no single party can hold more than five regular seats (and no more than two alternates).

The commission also discussed terms and term limits. Corbett said regular members serve four-year terms and alternates serve two-year terms; participants debated whether to add term limits. Nick Matrakis, a Commission participant, urged caution about strict…