This is a municipal election year. We are starting a series of articles that will explain a little about the election process, and provide information on the municipal offices that are up for election or appointment this year.
- There are currently several opportunities to volunteer in town, please visit the town website for more information on volunteering.
WHAT IS A CAUCUS? WHY IS A CAUCUS IMPORTANT
Posted on March 11, 2019
The technical definition of a CAUCUS is a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy.
Few people really understand how important the CAUCUS is and that most election decisions are made at these meetings with very few people making all the decisions that will affect the town for the next 2-6 years depending on the position.
Here’s the reason. Municipal elections are largely uncontested. There are often a few positions on the ballot that have a challenger, but a large majority of the people selected at the CAUCUS will be elected without any opposition.
To vote at a CAUCUS you must belong to the political party that the CAUCUS is being held by. In the town of Voluntown currently only the two major parties, Democrat and Republican, hold CAUCUSES. During the week of July 16-23 both parties will CAUCUS to endorse candidates for this year’s municipal election.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Posted on March 18, 2019
This week we will focus on the Board of Education. This board currently meets on the 1st and 3rd (if needed) Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM. The board is responsible for everything involving the school as well as all the students that live in the Town of Voluntown. A few of these responsibilities as seen on the Voluntown Board of Education webpage are: Budget & Finance, Policy, Long-Range Planning & Community Relations, Strategic Wellness, School Security and Safety Committee, and Food Service.
The Board of Education Mission Statement
The Voluntown Board of Education commits to providing our students the basic skills essential to competent functioning in our society, including their ability to read, write, listen, speak, manipulate basic math concepts, and acquire a general knowledge of science.
It is, therefore, our mission to help our students mature into independent, reasoning, and responsible individuals, who can adapt constructively in an ever-changing, multi-cultural, and technological world. (April, 2004)
Current Board Members
* Diana Ingraham, Chair
Kristen Trahan, Vice Chair
* Barbara Gileau, Secretary
* Kate Beauparlant
Skart Paul
Christopher Wilson
* Flo Harman
The * indicates the member terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot in November.
Election Information
This year four (4) candidates will be elected to the Board of Education on November 5, 2019. At the Democratic and Republican Caucuses to be held the week of July 16-July 23, 2019, each party is allowed to endorse only two (2) candidates. All four (4) of these candidates will appear on the ballot unopposed unless a resident chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
Spotlight on the Inland Wetland Commission
Posted on March 25, 2019
This week we will focus on the Inland Wetland Commission. The board currently meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM. The board has the authority provided to Inland Wetlands Commissions under the statutes of the State of Connecticut and shall promulgate such regulations, in conformity with the State regulations and State statutes as are necessary to protect the wetlands and water courses within its territorial limits (See ‘Ordinance’). Alternate members are members of the board that may go to all meetings and participate, but will only vote if a full member is absent and they have been seated by the chairman.
Purpose per Wetland Regulations
It is, therefore, the purpose of these regulations to protect the citizens of the state by making provisions for the protection, preservation, maintenance and use of the inland wetlands and watercourses by minimizing their disturbance and pollution; maintaining and improving water quality in accordance with the highest standards set by federal, state or local authority; preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation; preventing loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation and the destruction of the natural habitats thereof; deterring and inhibiting the danger of flood and pollution; protecting the quality of wetlands and watercourses for their conservation, economic, aesthetic, recreational and other public and private uses and values; and protecting the state’s potable fresh water supplies from the dangers of drought, overdraft, pollution, misuse and mismanagement by providing an orderly process to balance the need for the economic growth of the state and the use of its land with the need to protect its environment and ecology in order to forever guarantee to the people of the state, the safety of such natural resources for their benefit and enjoyment and for the benefit and enjoyment of generations yet unborn. (See ‘Wetland Regulations‘)
Currently Serving
* Thomas Sweet – Chairman
Lester K. Davis
* Andrew McLallen
David C. Miner
John O. Moran
* Robert A. Panko, Alternate
* Tammy Daigneault, Alternate
The * indicates the terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot.
Election Information
This year two (2) full member candidates and two (2) alternate member candidates will be elected to the Inland Wetland Commission on November 5, 2019. At the Democratic and Republican Caucuses to be held the week of July 16-July 23, 2019, each party is allowed to endorse two (2) full and two (2) alternate candidates. All four (4) full and all four (4) alternate candidates will appear on the ballot along with any resident that chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
Spotlight on the Board of Selectmen
Posted on April 1, 2019
This week we will focus on the Board of Selectmen. The board currently meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM. The First Selectman serves as Chief Elected and Chief Executive Officer of the town; presides over Board of Selectmen meetings; represents the town in intergovernmental and regional organizations; acts as spokesman for the town on all public policy matters; and, performs ceremonial functions of the town as necessary. A Selectman serves as elected official and officer of the town; attends all Board of Selectmen meetings and may attend all board and commission meetings; may represent the town in intergovernmental and regional organizations; serves as a decision maker on all public policy matters.
Purpose
The purpose and duties of the Board of Selectmen are defined by the Connecticut State Statutes:
The selectmen of each town shall, forthwith, after the election or appointment of any town officers of whom an oath is required by law, cause them to be sworn to a faithful discharge of their respective duties. They shall superintend the concerns of the town, adjust and settle all claims against it and draw orders on the treasurer for their payment. They shall require of the treasurer a sufficient bond, with surety, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office; and the selectmen who fail to require such bond shall be jointly and severally liable to the town for all moneys not accounted for by the treasurer. They shall make a sworn report to the treasurer of the amount, number and date of each town order drawn by them, at the end of each month; and they shall keep a true account of all expenditures in the form of a permanent record which shall be verified under oath at the end of the fiscal year and made available for auditing purposes and public inspection.
Currently Serving
* Tracey Hanson – First Selectman
* Ronald Millovitsch- Selectman
* Mark “Skipp” Oulton- Selectman
The * indicates the terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot.
Election Information
Selectmen are elected at each municipal election to serve a two-year term. Three (3) candidates will be elected to the Board of Selectmen on November 5, 2019. At the Democratic and Republican Caucuses to be held the week of July 16-July 23, 2019, each party is allowed to endorse one (1) candidate for First Selectman and one (1) candidate for Selectman. Two Candidates will be on the ballot for First Selectman and two candidates will be on the ballot for Selectman along with any resident that chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
Spotlight on the Zoning Board of Appeals
Posted on April 8, 2019
The Zoning Board of Appeals currently meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 PM when there is an agenda. Appeals may be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals when it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, or decision made by the Zoning Enforcement Officer or the Planning and Zoning Commission, or when a variance is sought from the provisions of the Zoning Regulations. A variance may be permitted if the Board finds that an unusual hardship because of conditions especially affecting a parcel of land, but not affecting generally the district in which it is located.
Purpose
The Zoning Board of Appeals was created in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 124, Section 8-5 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The responsibility of the Board is to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, or decision made by the official charged with the enforcement of chapter 124 or any bylaw, ordinance or regulation adopted under the provisions of this chapter and to hear and decide all matters including special exceptions and special exemptions under section 8-2g upon which it is required to pass by the specific terms of the zoning bylaws, ordinance or regulations in harmony with their general purpose and intent and property values solely with respect to a particular parcel of land.
Currently Serving
Wendy K. Gauthier- Chairman
Edward W. Grenier
* Arthur Ivanic
* Karen Anderson
* Vacancy
* Alternate- Cheryl Sadowski
* Alternate- James Gauthier
* Alternate- Vacancy
The * indicates the terms that end this November and positions that will appear on the ballot.
Election Information
This year three (3) full member candidates and three (3) alternate member candidates will be elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals on November 5, 2019. At the Democratic and Republican Caucuses to be held the week of July 16- July 23, 2019, each party is allowed to endorse three (3) full and three (3) alternate candidates. All six (6) full and all six (6) candidates will appear on the ballot, along with any resident that chooses to petition to be added to the ballot. For more information on petitioning, please contact the Town Clerk.
