By Lauren Rabin
Last month I wrote about the hundreds of volunteers that commit their time and talent to our 20+ appointed Boards, Commissions and Committees. Our town is also governed by elected members who can also be considered volunteers as they do not receive financial compensation for their public service.
These uncompensated public servants are the Board of Estimate and Taxation, the Board of Education, and the Representative Town Meeting. Let’s get to know them!
The duties of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) are defined in our Town Charter. The BET Is responsible for the proper administration of the financial affairs of our Town including the issuance of the annual recommended Budget and setting our Town tax mill rate. The Board also acts on requests for additional appropriations, transfers and allotments made during the fiscal year. The BET appoints the Town Controller and Town Assessor.
The BET consists of 12 members, 6 from each major political party, serving a 2-year term. BET members dedicate countless hours to the annual budget process (whose activities are almost year-round), reviewing the financial impacts from HR and Legal matters and participating audit, bonding, investments, and other post-employment benefits (OPEB).
The Board of Education (BOE) is the governing body of the school district and derives its power and exists under the Constitution and General Statutes of the State of Connecticut and the regulations of the Connecticut State Board of Education. Members of the BOE are expected to represent and balance the educational interests of students in our public schools, Greenwich citizens, and the State of Connecticut.
The BOE consists of 8 members, 4 from each major political party, serving a 4-year term, with four members elected every two years. BOE members dedicate many hours to annually establish, with the Superintendent of Schools (elected by the BOE in accordance with state statutes), educational priorities for the school district and to consider and adopt an annual budget, prepared by the Superintendent of Schools. A highlight of other duties includes:
• Determine the number, classification, duties, and remuneration of employees.
• Establish policies for employment, promotion, and dismissal of personnel in accordance with state statutes.
• Provide for the appraisal of the performance of personnel.
• Initiate and approve the acquisition and disposition of school sites and to initiate and approve plans for school buildings.
• Keep Greenwich citizens informed of the purposes, values, conditions, and needs of public education in the Town.
• Consider, revise, and adopt any changes in the curriculum.
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is the 230-member legislative body of our town, with its powers vested by our Town Charter. Members of the RTM represent (and are elected within) our 12 town districts and serve two-year terms.
The RTM has the authority to:
• Examine and pass the Town budget. It can only approve, reduce, or eliminate items.
• Vote on the acceptance of gifts.
• Vote on all appropriations over $5,000 that have not already been approved through the budget process.
• Approve Municipal Improvements (MI) as the final authority.
• Pass Sense of the Meeting Resolutions (SOMRs), which are used to encourage other bodies to act or to express the sentiment of the RTM on a topic of current interest.
• Review and either approve or reject appointments to Town Boards, Commissions, and other bodies whose membership is nominated rather than elected.
• Create special committees to deal with subjects such as labor contracts, claims, and redistricting.
• Review and vote on all ordinances, except for ordinances dealing with traffic and parking.
These elected volunteers are our friends and neighbors, and I encourage all residents to get to know them personally and thank them for their service to our town.
Lauren Rabin is Selectwoman for the Town of Greenwich serving her fourth year on the Board of Selectmen, compensated at a rate of 10% of the salary of the First Selectman.
