Rules Pose Challenge for RTM Rules

Monday evening saw the Rules Committee’s strict adherence to the “rules,” make the already difficult job of assigning 49 newly elected Representative Town Meeting members to their preferred standing committees, that much harder.

The beginning of a new term prompts the reorganization of the RTM, Darien’s nonpartisan legislative arm. Roughly half of the RTM’s 100 members are elected—or reelected—every year, which presents the annual challenge to the Rules Committee of assigning new bodies to their preferred standing committees, while adhering to the rules of seniority and equal distribution.

Regularity and order are fundamental to the RTM, whose main responsibilities are to pass laws and ordinances and appropriate money; but sometimes, adherence to the rules is in itself a challenge. Such was the case Monday, when members’ seniority took precedence over others’ stellar qualifications.

As it stands, a member who sits on a board one year can sit on that board the next, and the next, and the next. As soon as a member leaves the RTM, seniority is wiped from the record. The second “rule” is an even distribution of members, with representation from two from each of the town’s six districts serving each standing committee.

On Monday evening, some Rules Committee members felt that sticking to these rules could result in a compromised committee, especially in the case where a new member has a lot more to offer than a fellow, more senior member.

“You need to have someplace in the process for common sense and judgment to enter in, which is one of the reasons to resist assigning rank or value to various criteria,” said Chair Karen Armour (District VI).

Others felt that unequal distribution could give one district an unfair advantage when making important decisions and that neglecting the rules weakened the integrity of the system at large.

“We tried to take into consideration seniority and experience on the RTM and trying to have a very balanced approach in terms of nomination to committees across the RTM and the districts,” said re-elected Vice Chair Flora Smith (District I).

But most felt a bit of both. And so ensued the very long and complicated process.

Most problematic was the Planning Zoning & Housing standing committee. As the group that deals with affordable housing, PZ&H is hugely popular, and there are only so many seats. The proposed distribution saw four-member representation from Districts II and III, rubbing up against the distribution rule.

“I’m a little disturbed. We worked very hard to put two people in each committee,” said John Price (District I).

Price added that three members from his and Smith’s district noted PZ&H as a top choice.

Rules representatives Liz Bacon and Marc Thorne of District II said they “worked very hard” as well and that their four-person PZ&H representation illustrated a problem with the rules. One of their members, Barbara Thorne has seniority on the Education Committee, they said, but she’s equally qualified for PZ&H. As a former high school guidance counselor and Selectman, Thorne has been deeply involved in both the Darien Public Schools system and Town government.

“Recognizing that we had a space in education and recognizing Barbara’s unique qualifications for PZ&H illustrates one of the complications of seniority and that sometimes it’s not going to make sense to ignore it. It’s too bad she can’t serve PZ&H because of that,” said Bacon.

District III presented a different problem. Rules representatives Seth Morton and Dennis Maroney explained that they have two re-elected members with identical seniority, tenure and real estate experience.

“You tell me who to cut,” said Maroney.

Armour explained that in this situation, she was willing to bend the rules and “keep them there.” Last year, PZ&H assignments in District III caused an uproar, she said, when a senior member was moved in the name of even distribution.

“The wisdom of the Rules Committee was called into question,” said Smith.

Filling the less popular committees like Parks and Recreation proved challenging, as did the fact that Districts II and IV are short on members (caucus to be held Nov. 23). Rules members shared the hope that new members to the RTM would appreciate seniority rules and be understanding of their assignments.

 “There’s no perfect system,” said Gary Swenson (District VI). “We have to look at it collectively and make some sense of it and make some solid decisions on it.”

Earlier in the evening, Smith was re-elected as Vice Chair of the Rules Committee over nominee Morton; Morton was appointed Clerk.