Since early voting kicked off on October 20th throughout the state, the town of Stratford has led with the largest number of early voting taking place in our town.
With municipal elections just three days away, there is still much we do not know. Not only about who our next mayor will be or even if things will turn around. Will our taxes be lowered? Will the schools improve for our students and teachers alike? Will there be both more transparency and accountability in our local government? Will yard signs stop getting stolen?
We have more questions than answers. One question I have not seen asked enough is do we know exactly what each person running for a municipal office does? What are their responsibilities and what will they be working for?
Our town website does not have these roles outlined and explained in detail, and each town (and state) works differently when it comes to these elected roles. However, what we do know is that local elections matter as much as national ones, and moreover, these elections inform how our national government works.
Essentially, the federal government is responsible for the purse (they provide grants and set requirements for the use of said grants), while the local governments work to determine how the funds will be used to implement services and programs to their communities.
It’s kinda like a two parent household, where the parents make the decisions and set the rules the kids are meant to follow, with some input from the kids, but who has the final say? The parents. The government works something like that. When one “parent” is sick, the other is supposed to pick up and keep things moving. We know though, both from experience if we are parents, and from today’s reality of our government shutdown, how all of the players must work together to get things done, just like in our households.
In Stratford, we have an Office of Planning & Zoning. On their website, they note that their office: oversees land-use for the Town of Stratford. In addition to the development and implementation of long-range town planning initiatives, the Office administers the receipt of applications for zoning compliance and guidance to various land-use boards and commissions. Presumably, the office works with the Planning Commission, Zoning and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Constable: There are different constable positions – elected v. appointed, and depending on how they take office, their duties vary. In Stratford, we elect our constable during municipal elections, which inherently means that under Connecticut law they can carry out civil orders like a sheriff would, which includes, but is not limited to presenting tax warrants, and they are tasked with “keeping the peace” in town. When elected, they serve for a two year term.
Town Council: The main responsibility of these elected officials is to set policy through ordinances and resolutions. They manage the town budget, funds, fiscal responsibility, and oversee the acquisition and sale of town property.
Board of Education: The mission listed on the board of education’s website states that they seek: To support the growth of the whole student through a challenging and inspiring education, within a safe and inclusive environment. In this year’s election, there are four seats available. The board of education, as a body, works directly with the Superintendent of Schools to ensure that he/she administers policies enacted by the board.
In town government, it is the elected mayor who has final say when it comes to enforcing laws, who can veto ordinances, make recommendations to the Town Council, oversee town departments, and manage administrative offices.
Our local government is like a small family, and everyone must cooperate and play their part to work effectively and efficiently.
