Letter: Recast the ATBM

To the Editor:

This is in reference to the amendment to the Town Charter regarding the ATBM and budget approval process.

Weston should follow the example of Ridgefield and recast the ATBM so that it is for discussion purposes only and eliminate the current line-item approval process.

Among other reasons for this change:

• The quorum for the ATBM is only 130 voters. This allows as few as 66 residents in a town of 7,500 registered voters to control the outcome. As such, it is inherently unrepresentative and undemocratic.

• The ATBM is difficult for many people to attend, particularly commuters and families with small children. These residents are effectively disenfranchised by the current process.

• Far from being an example of classic New England representative democracy, the ATBM quickly devolves into a public food fight with no respectful exchange of ideas. As such, it is not only inconvenient but also unpleasant.

• The current process (with a general budget referendum following the ATBM) is confusing and misleading. Many residents mistakenly believe the general referendum is the controlling vote on the budget and are surprised to learn that they are actually voting on a budget as it may have already been reduced at the ATBM by as few as 66 residents.

• Whether because the ATBM process is inconvenient, unpleasant or poorly understood, attendance varies and in some years is so sparsely attended that a quorum is not present. A process that sounds democratic on its face but does not allow for meaningful participation in the real world is a broken process.

• In prior years, a small faction with an anti-tax, anti-spend agenda has used the ATBM process to challenge any increase in headcount or spending without regard to the countless hours of work and focused attention over the prior months during which the budget was formulated (including numerous public sessions with opportunity for comment).

Accordingly, Weston should follow the example of Ridgefield and convert the ATBM so that it is for discussion only, with the Town Budget subject to a general referendum where all residents are afforded the opportunity to vote — and not just the bare minimum willing and able to attend an inconvenient (and often unpleasant) meeting in the middle of the work week.

—  Kevin Korsh

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