A recent legal challenge to the makeup of TEAM Westport — the town’s multicultural commission — shined a light on local government.
Seven boards or commissions are elected by voters. Members “must be” registered Westport voters. Those boards are:
- Board of Assessment Appeals
- Board of Education
- Board of Finance
- Board of Selectwomen
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Representative Town Meeting
- Zoning Board of Appeals
In addition, voters choose the Probate Court judge, and the Democratic and Republican Registrars of Voters.
The RTM — Westport’s “city council” — includes 36 members, from 9 voting districts. Elections are non-partisan.
However, much of the government work is done by appointed boards and commissions. Members are chosen by the 1st selectperson, and “shall be” residents of and registered voters in Westport.
Those 45 groups make suggestions and decisions — usually advisory — covering a wide swath of Westport life. They include arts, aesthetics, recreation, the police, education, youth, senior citizens, people with disabilities, the environment, animals, downtown, housing, the water, mental health and conservation:
- Architectural Review Board
- Area Nine Cable Council
- Arts Advisory Committee
- Beautification Committee
- Blight Prevention Board
- Boating Advisory Committee
- Civilian Review Panel
- Coleytown Middle School Building Committee (CMSBC)
- Commission for Senior Services
- Commission on People with Disabilities
- Conservation Commission
- Dangerous Dog Hearing Board
- Downtown Plan Implementation Committee
- Fair Housing Officer
- Flood and Erosion Control Board
- Golf Advisory Committee
- Harbor Master
- Historic District Commission
- Housing Authority
- Human Services Commission
- International Hospitality Committee
- Justices of the Peace
- Levitt Pavilion for Performing Arts Committee
- Maintenance Study Committee
- “Make a Difference Day” Committee
- Parks Advisory Committee
- Parks and Recreation Commission
- Public Site and Building Commission
- Racquets Advisory Committee
- Reopen Westport Advisory Team
- Saugatuck TOD Master Plan Steering Committee
- Selectman’s Real Property Committee
- Shellfish Commission
- Sherwood Mill Pond Committee
- Southwest Regional Mental Health Board
- Sustainable Westport
- TEAM Westport
- Tree Board
- United Nations Hospitality Committee
- Wakeman Town Farm Committee
- Website Redevelopment Steering Committee
- WestPAC: Westport Public Arts Collection Committee
- Westport Weston Health District
- Westport Transit District
- Youth Commission
The only member of any of the elected and appointed boards who receives a salary for service is the first selectperson. (The other 2 members of that board receive a very small stipend. Board of Assessment Appeals members receive an even tinier stipend: $200 each.)
Everyone else is a volunteer.
To learn more about Westport’s elected and appointed officials, click here.
The Westport Youth Commission dates back to the late 1960s.
The appointed volunteers on the Westport Historic District Commission have the legal authority to, among other things, levy fines and seize property. So it’s a good idea not to appoint anyone to that commission who is, ahem, not fully oriented.
Appreciate the education.
This was really insightful thanks for the info. Frankly I’m sick of all these people who are frankly complaining and criticizing everything – the same people who probably don’t volunteer for anything. I would like to say thanks to most of these volunteers who usually bring expertise to the issues. Suggestions and advisements are always appreciated but really?????? Sometimes it’s impossible to get things done in this town because things have to be discussed ad nausea – change is good, TEAM Westport is needed
Dan, your list of appointed boards is inaccurate. The two Directors of the Westport Transit District are appointed by the RTM, not the First Selectperson. The RTM also appoints some members of the Westport Library board.
Thanks, Peter. I got the information off the town website. I appreciate the correction.
When I served on the Board of Assessment Appeals, which was then called the Board of Tax Review, we each received $200 per year. Has that been changed?
No. Dick Lowenstein told me about that earlier. I edited the story to reflect that. Any idea why there is a stipend for that particular position?
The volunteer world of Westport is generally terrific. Nevertheless, some Appointed Committees do not do much and should be reviewed by First Selectwoman Jen Tooker. Sometimes a Committee is appointed to almost prevent anything from being accomplished. I have not checked the new members on all the Appointed Committees, but I was delighted with Jen’s changes to the Parks & Recreation Commission.
Don Bergmann
International Hospitality and UN hospitality are just one committee