Week 10: How well do you know our town government?

Greenwich is holding local elections this fall to elect town leaders. How well do you know how our local government works? Test your knowledge in this ten part series

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What do you call the chief executive of Greenwich?

1. What do you call the chief executive of Greenwich?

A. Mayor
B. First Selectman
C. Town Manager
D. Alderman

B

The term “First Selectman” originates from the New England town meeting system of governance, where a board of selectmen is the primary administrative body.

What do you call the other members of the town executive body?

2. What do you call the other members of the town executive body?

A. City council
B. Board of Aldermen
C. Board of Selectmen
D. Board of Commissioners

C

Derived from early New England town government, where “Selectmen” refers to the practice of voters “selecting” individuals deemed capable of managing town affairs.

How many people serve on the Board of Selectmen?

3. How many people serve on the Board of Selectmen?

A. 6
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2

C

The Board of Selectmen includes the person who won the race for First Selectman, plus the next two highest vote getters.

How many people serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)?

4. How many people serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)?

A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 14

C

The BET is composed of 12 members: six Democrats and six Republicans.

The BET is composed of six Democrats and six Republicans. What happens when there is a tie vote?

5. The BET is composed of six Democrats and six Republicans. What happens when there is a tie vote?

A. The First Selectman breaks the tie
B. The two sides keep voting until they break the tie
C. The chairman of the BET can cast an extra tie-breaking vote
D. The RTM votes to break the tie

C

In the event of a tie, the BET chairman gets a second or extra tie-breaking vote. Republican BET members have increasingly relied on this “extra” vote to bypass collaboration and push through unpopular cuts.

What is NOT one of the purposes of the BET?

6. What is NOT one of the purposes of the BET?

A. To prepare and vote on the town budget
B. Set the local property tax “mill rate”
C. Make changes to town ordinances
D. Oversee major capital spending decisions
E. Approve grants awarded to the town
F. Approve the budget for the Board of Education

C

The BET does not make changes to town ordinances. Learn more about the functions of the BET here.

How many members serve on the Board of Education?

7. How many members serve on the Board of Education?

A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

D

The BOE consists of 8 members: 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans, who each serve 4 year terms that are staggered. In every municipal election, two members from each party are elected.

How is the chair of the Board of Education selected?

8. How is the chair of the Board of Education selected?

A. By a majority vote of the Board of Education members
B. By the schools superintendent
C. By the Board of Selectmen
D. By the PTAs

A

The BOE appoints its own chair, although if the BOE is deadlocked on their choice for more than 30 days, the Board of Selectmen can appoint their own choice for the chair position.

Who has the authority to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education?

9. Who has the authority to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education?

A. The members of the Board of Education
B. The schools superintendent
C. The Board of Selectmen
D. The PTAs

A

According to state law, any vacancy on the BOE shall be filled by a vote of the remaining members of the Board, as soon as feasible.

How many of the last 100 years have Republicans held the First Selectman office?

10. How many of the last 100 years have Republicans held the First Selectman office?

A. 100 years
B. 92 years
C. 80 years
D. 72 years

B

The Republican party has governed Greenwich for 92 of the last 100 years.

How often are town elections?

11. How often are town elections?

A. Every year
B. Every two years
C. Every four years
D. Every six years

B

Municipal elections occur every two years, on odd years. Our next town election is this November.

How many of the last 100 years have Republicans held the finance board (Board of Estimate and Taxation) chairmanship?

12. How many of the last 100 years have Republicans held the finance board (Board of Estimate and Taxation) chairmanship?

A. 66 years
B. 78 years
C. 98 years
D. 100 years

C

Republicans have controlled the BET for 98 of the last 100 years in Greenwich.

What does the town legislature – the Representative Town Meeting – do?

13. What does the town legislature – the Representative Town Meeting – do?

A. Vote to make changes in the town laws
B. Approve or reduce the budget
C. Appropriate expenditures over $5000
D. Confirm board appointments
E. All of the above

E

All of the above. See the functions of the RTM here.

Can the town legislature, the Representative Town Meeting, add to the town budget?

14. Can the town legislature, the Representative Town Meeting, add to the town budget?

A. Yes
B. Only for items under $10,000
C. Only if there is a supermajority vote
D. No

D

The RTM may make cuts to the annual budget, approve it as is, or reject it.

How many RTM Districts are there?

15. How many RTM Districts are there?

A. Six
B. Twelve
C. Eighteen
D. Twenty

B

Their are 12 RTM Districts.

How long before the First Selectman presents his town budget proposal are the budget details made public?

16. How long before the First Selectman presents his town budget proposal are the budget details made public?

A. The details are not made public until the First Selectman’s presentation
B. 24 hours before the presentation
C. One week before the presentation
D. Two weeks before the presentation

A

Under this administration, the public only sees the budget on the evening the First Selectman presents it. There is no opportunity for public input until after he has completed his presentation of the budget.

Do residents have an opportunity to testify about what gets funding before the First Selectman presents his budget recommendations?

17. Do residents have an opportunity to testify about what gets funding before the First Selectman presents his budget recommendations?

A. Yes, the First Selectman holds several hearings to identify residents’ priorities
B. Yes, the First Selectman holds one public hearing before the presentation of his budget
C. No, residents only get to express their priorities after the First Selectman has already presented his budget

C

Under this administration, the public only sees the budget on the evening the First Selectman presents it. There is no opportunity for public input until after he has completed his budget.

Is the public allowed to attend/watch town board meetings?

18. Is the public allowed to attend/watch town board meetings?

A. Only if they show up in person
B. Yes, most meetings are streamed on YouTube and Greenwich Community TV (GCTV) on cable.
C. No, meetings are held in executive session and are not open to the public

B

The public is allowed to attend meetings in person, join via Zoom, or stream them from home. See the meeting schedule here. Many are recorded on GCTV YouTube.

When does voting take place in Greenwich this year?

19. When does voting take place in Greenwich this year?

A. November 7
B. November 4
C. October 20 – November 2, and November 4
D. There is no election this year

C

Early voting begins on October 20 and ends on November 2. Election Day is November 4. See the registration and voting schedule here.

Who is allowed to vote by absentee ballot?

20. Who is allowed to vote by absentee ballot?

A. No one
B. Only individuals with a qualifying excuse for not being available on Election day or other voting days
C. Any voter

B

In 2024, CT voters approved a referendum question to change the state constitution to allow all registered voters the ability to vote by mail in CT. However, the legislature has not yet passed the enabling legislation. Until it does, only voters with qualifying conditions can vote by mail.

Why is it important to vote in town elections?

21. Why is it important to vote in town elections?

A. Because town election outcomes determine how our tax dollars are spent
B. Because town election outcomes express our priorities and values
C. Because town elections outcomes can serve as a check against federal overreach
D. All of the above

D

There are town elections in Greenwich that have been won or lost by one vote. This is where your vote can really make a difference.

What does BET stand for?

22. What does BET stand for?

A. Budget Evaluation Task force
B. Board of Earnings and Taxes
C. Board of Estimate and Taxation
D. Bureau of Economic Tools

C

Board of Estimate and Taxation

How is the all-important chairmanship of the town finance board (Board of Estimate and Taxation) selected?

23. How is the all-important chairmanship of the town finance board (Board of Estimate and Taxation) selected?

A. By a majority vote of all the members of the BET, but chair must be from the party that won the most votes in the election
B. By a vote of the party that received the most votes in the election of the BET
C. The First Selectman picks the chair
D. Voters pick the chair when they vote in November

What serve the

A

The chair is typically from the party that won the most votes in the election. All BET members vote on the chair.

Who is NOT part of deciding whether the fire chief gets funding for the fire truck he requested in his annual budget request?

24. Who is NOT part of deciding whether the fire chief gets funding for the fire truck he requested in his annual budget request?

A. The Board of Selectmen
B. The Representative Town Meeting
C. The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)

A

It is the BET, and ultimately, the chair with their tie breaking vote, that determines whether the fire chief’s request for a fire truck will be granted. For years, Republicans on the BET rejected the fire department’s requests to replace aged out fire trucks. If the BET approves, the request then goes to the RTM for approval.

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