Position-Municipal Buildings

MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
	(Revised 1965, 1983, 1992)
The League of Women Voters of Westport supports the strengthening of present procedures for the planning, construction or conversion of municipal buildings to achieve improved overall coordination among all Town Boards and agencies responsible for decisions at any stage of a building project.
Explanation:
	The League of Women Voters believes that planning, construction, or conversion of municipal buildings can be accomplished more effectively if close attention is paid to the involvement of all the following in the request procedure:
		1. The Planning and Zoning Commission. (According to State Statute, the P&Z must review the location of any municipal building before the local legislative body can vote it on, Chapter 126, Section 8-24 of the General Statutes, 1958 revision as amended.) 2. The Moderator of the Representative Town Meeting and members of the RTM 3. The Board of Finance 4. The Public Site and Building Committee 5. The Director of Public Works, who acting as chief technical advisor of the Town may assist the project. 6. The School Building Committee
	In addition, we believe that the First Selectman should foster cooperation among the various groups participating in the project, thus lessening misunderstanding. One avenue to increased cooperation is to be found in the power granted to the First Selectman by the Town Charter. (The First Selectman may convene the members of any or all Boards and Commissions to review and coordinate activities and to plan operations of the Town government and will convene a general membership meeting of such members at least once a year. Chapter 3, Section 3, Executive Powers of the First Selectman according to the Westport Town Charter, 1986.) The members of the RTM should be given every opportunity to vote on a building project, AFTER examination of alternatives and based on adequate information. All pertinent reports to the RTM by Town Boards and Commissions, and those by the appropriate study committees to the RTM, should be sent to ALL members of the RTM with the Call. This procedure would give the members the sufficient time needed for study of such reports before having to vote on a building project. The Town of Westport should provide for more coordinated and efficient municipal offices.