Town voters reject charter revisions

FAIRFIELD — Residents rejected the proposed changes to the town charter at the polls on Election Day, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick confirmed Tuesday night.

Official results were not available as of 11:30 p.m.

“I pledged to Fairfielders from the day I took office that I would restore the public’s trust by installing proper oversight and accountability while working to make sure our town government is run with transparency and honesty,” Kupchick said. “Opening up the charter for its first meaningful review in 30 years was a priority for me in that effort.

“Unfortunately, the process turned contentious and partisan,” she added. “The opposition was simply louder and the substance of the changes were drowned out by the noise.”

Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz, who voted against the changes when they came before the selectmen, said it’s up to Kupchick on what happens now with the charter revision.

“I hope she takes this as a signal that the community is invested in this process,” Lefkowitz said, adding the results showed residents wanted agency in how the town operates. “At the end of the day, that’s just good governance.”

Kupchick said the last process lasted more than a year and had 37 public meetings. She said “there are too many issues” to manage to start another process and was skeptical residents would want to join another commission after how this process turned partisan.

“I will continue the good work of moving our town forward in the 21st century with the resources available to me notwithstanding the reality that we will have to do it with a charter from the last century,” she said.

The charter revision includes a mix of small changes, such as wording, and large items, including operational aspects to town government.

All of the changes were presented as one question, a point some opponents took issue with because it didn’t separate the controversial elements out to be voted on by themselves. Both supporters and opponents have been vocal throughout the process, which began more than a year ago.

Proponents say the revised charter is easier to navigate and will make the town more efficient and modernize it. Opponents disagree with some of the bigger changes.

Lefkowitz said the instinct to modernize the charter is good, and a lot of good work has been made so far, now officials just have to work with the community.

“We now have an opportunity to go farther and more methodically with the process that involves the public and more meticulously with process that involves the public and takes that into account that this is a community that wants to be engaged,” she said.

Changing the makeup of the Representative Town Meeting, one of Fairfield’s main town bodies, was one of the most contentious points. The changes originally proposed requiring minority party representation in the districts and bringing the membership down to 30, but both ideas were nixed and the proposed membership was raised to 40 after backlash. The RTM currently has 40 members, though the charter allowed 56.

Those supporting the lower number said it would create a more efficient government, while those supporting the higher number said that was better for residents to interact with their representatives.

Another contentious change included in the proposal was removing the engineering requirement for the head of the Department of Public Works.

Kupchick has said it’s not needed because there are engineers on staff, and the person’s managerial experience is the most important thing someone in that position can have.

Opponents argue someone in that role should also have the engineering expertise given the types of projects that department handles.