Lawyers zing politicians; Krawiecki appointed

The two lawyers who resigned last month told the City Council Tuesday they felt overburdened, underpaid and underappreciated for the long, hard hours of work they put for low wages.
“I was taken for granted and taken advantage of by the politicians because of my affection for my hometown,” said Jeff Steeg, a former assistant city attorney.
Dale Clift, the former city attorney, said the $33,000-a-year pay he received “imposed an unreasonable financial burden” given the many hours he devoted to city business.
Both of the lawyers, who are partners in private practice, said they pushed for several years to get more money or benefits as well as to bolster the city’s legal muscle so they wouldn’t have to do so much.
Each of the two attorneys delivered a long address to the council. The texts of their speeches are here, in PDF form:

Attorney Dale Clift's address to the City Council

Attorney Jeff Steeg's letter to Bristol residents

I'll write more about what they had to say on Wednesday. This is just a start. But I strongly urge anyone who cares to read what each of the lawyers had to say. They provide a context to what happened that is necessary to understand their choices, but also to get a glimpse into how City Hall operates, or fails to operate.

Krawiecki finally gets appointed
After trying for more than a year to convince his Democratic colleagues on the City Council to agree to let him hire a GOP lawyer to fill one of three part-time city attorney slots, Mayor Art Ward finally got his way Tuesday.
The council unanimously to endorse Edward Krawiecki, Jr, a former city attorney, for one of two part-time assistant city attorney positions.
Krawiecki will join two full-time lawyers -- Richard Lacey and Ann Baldwin -- whom he used to oversee when he served as the city’s top lawyer during former Mayor William Stortz’s most recent administration.
Two other city lawyer positions, including the city attorney, are vacant because their holders resigned last month after city officials repeatedly refused to hire more help, increase their pay or add health insurance benefits to the jobs.
The two vacant posts have been advertised, with applications due by June 17.
The city attorney needs five years of experience for the $33,000-a-year position while the assistant collects $28,000-a-year and needs only two years of experience in order to be eligible.
Krawiecki, who served for 16 years as a state lawmaker while also practicing law, easily meets the experience threshold.
When Ward took office in 2007, he kept Krawiecki on for months until the council rebelled and forced him to replace the Republican with a Democrat, Dale Clift, who had been a part-time city lawyer for more than a decade.
Last year, the four council members who refused to back Krawiecki -- Frank Nicastro, Cliff Block, Craig Minor and Kevin McCauley -- said they didn’t mind hiring a Republican to fill the office’s fifth slot.
But they didn’t want Krawiecki.
Minor said last summer that he told the mayor “that demoting Ed to assistant corp counsel was very bad for morale and organizational dynamics.”
“I tried to use a military analogy: you don't demote the company commander to sergeant and keep him in the same unit,” Minor said at the time. “The men will be constantly looking to the ‘sergeant’ to approve whatever the new commander says, which completely undermines his authority.”Five other Republicans who sought the city job were turned down as Ward held out for Krawiecki.
McCauley said that he considered voting against Krawiecki, but decided that as long as everyone agreed on the need to fill the other two positions in the legal office, he could vote in favor.
Ward said that applications would be reviewed quickly, followed by interviews so the city can “get ‘em on board.”

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Republicans push Krawiecki

Both of the city's Republican councilors said hiring Ed Krawiecki, Jr to fill one of the part-time city attorney slots is a no-brainer.

Councilor Mike Rimcoski said that he and fellow GOP Councilor Ken Cockayne were ready all along to back Mayor Art Ward's bid to tap Krawiecki to fill a vacant city lawyer position.

But the Democratic council members were firmly opposed.l

"That's why his name didn't come up," Rimcoski said.

Both Rimcoski and Cockayne said that Krawiecki, who served as city attorney from 2006 until early 2008, has the background to step in quickly and lend a hand.

"He can pick up the ball right where it is," Rimcoski said.

The city's only two part-time lawyers, Dale Clift and Jeff Steeg, have turned in resignations effective June 1. They said they might reconsider if the city included them in its heathcare plan.

But Ward said he has no interest in keeping either of the attorneys on the job.

Cockayne called the two lawyers' tactics an attempt at "blackmail" in order to force officials to give in.

He said that when he heard the news, "I was pretty upset."

Cockayne said the mayor took the right stand. But, he said, he wouldn't let them stick around until June 1.

"I would have walked them out of the building," Cockayne said.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Mayor won't bend on lawyers' plea for benefits

City lawyers who are seeking healthcare benefits for their part-time positions haven’t made a persuasive case, Mayor Art Ward said.

Ward called it “highly improper” for the city attorney, Dale Clift, to threaten to resign if he doesn’t get benefits before June 1.

“Economically, it’s not feasible,” Ward said “and, ethically, I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Both Clift and an assistant city lawyer, Jeff Steeg, informed the mayor last week they would resign on June 1 unless the city provided healthcare benefits for the part-time jobs. Clift earns $33,000 as city attorney while Steeg gets $27,000 as an assistant.

Ward’s position has strong backing from at least one city councilor.

“I fully support 100 percent the mayor’s position,” city Councilor Ken Cockayne said. “I don’t agree with the tactics these guys took.”

Cockayne, a freshman Republican, said the pair “are trying to strong arm the mayor and council. I feel it is entirely inappropriate.”

The city has four lawyers, two full-time and two part-time. There is a fifth slot, for a part-time attorney, that has been vacant because the mayor and council could not agree on who should fill it.

Clift and Steeg told city officials last week they could not afford to keep doing the part-time city work unless they were included in the city’s healthcare coverage because their municipal posts are taking so much time away from their private practice.

Ward said he offered to fill the fifth attorney position if that would relieve some of the pressure and allow the two lawyers to stay on. He said Clift insisted that healthcare was the key.

City Councilor Cliff Block said he’s not ready to rule out offering medical insurance to the two lawyers.

He said he wants to know what other cities and towns in the region pay their lawyers so he can see how Bristol stacks up.

“I want to see what’s what” before making a decision, Block said.

The mayor and council met in executive session last week to talk to Clift and the personnel director, Diane Ferguson, about the threatened resignation. After they talked behind closed doors, the politicians booted out Clift and Ferguson to continue discussing options in secret.

It is unclear what, if anything, the politicians decided. They said they took no votes.

Ward said that he can’t give the lawyers a pay hike – or more benefits that cost the city – while he’s also trying to get municipal unions to agree to concessions that would save money for Bristol.

The city’s Salary Committee has occasionally discussed the idea of offering more to part-time lawyers, but it has never taken action on the proposal.

Ward said that no options are off the table and that a solution has to be found quickly.

He said he hopes he can find a way to preserve continuity in the lawyers’ office.

Cockayne said there is an obvious solution: hire Edward Krawiecki, Jr, who served as city attorney from 2006 to early 2008, to fill in.

Cocakyne said that Krawiecki is the only person he can think of who has the experience to step in and be reasonably current on the issues facing the city.

“He can do the job from day one,” Cockayne said.

Taking note of the likelihood that one of the city’s two full-time lawyers, Richard Lacey, may be out for a time this summer for personal reasons, Cockayne said the city has to act.

“We have to do something to relieve some of the pressure that’s going to be put on Ann Baldwin,” the other full-time city lawyer, Cockayne said.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Lawyers' resignations spark political split

Public Works Director Walter Veselka, left, talks to attorneys Jeff Steeg, center, and Dale Clift, right. (Mike Orazzi/The Bristol Press) (Note: If you can't see all three men, then click on the picture and you can see all of it.)

Two city lawyers -- Dale Clift, the city attorney, and Jeff Steeg, an assistant city attorney -- turned in letters of resignation Tuesday because, they said, they could not afford the part-time positions without benefits.
The move immediately caused city politicians to begin facing off about how best to handle the unexpected development.
The resignations, effective June 1, could yet be reversed if the city and its lawyers can reach some sort of deal.
A closed-door, executive session at the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting focused on Clift’s decision. Both Clift and the city’s personnel director were included in the meeting.
But even that was a victory for city councilors who wanted the issue dealt with immediately.
Mayor Art Ward said he didn't want to talk about the resignations of the lawyers until he could talk over the issue with the city's personnel director, Diane Ferguson.
But several city councilors said they didn’t want to wait.
City Councilor Craig Minor said the council needed to talk about it immediately – in secret – and made the successful motion to do so.
"We have to do a lot of talking," city Councilor Cliff Block said."We need to sit down and find out what's happening," city Councilor Ken Cockayne said.
City Councilor Mike Rimcoski said he understands the decision made by the pair and isn't sure what will happen next.
"I just don't like being forced into a corner," Rimcoski said.
Rimcoski said that he wants to talk with the rest of the council about the issue "and see if there's anything we can do."
The city attorney's office has two full-time lawyers, Richard Lacey and Ann Baldwin, and three part-time posts, including the city attorney's slot. But one of those posts has been empty for months because they council has refused to consider Mayor Art Ward's choice for it, Edward Krawiecki, Jr, a former city attorney.
If Clift and Steeg step down, all three part-time lawyer jobs would be vacant, leaving only the two full-timers.
Rimcoski said that if Clift and Steeg depart, Ward might wind up having to pay outside lawyers -- at a cost that could easily exceed the cost of health care coverage -- in order to ensure Bristol's legal work gets done.
"Two people can't handle it all," Rimcoski said.
Block said he thinks the mayor's failure to fill the vacancy in the attorney's office contributed to the problem there because it burdened the four lawyers with too much work.Ward said he might consider replacing the two part-timers with another full-time attorney.The mayor also said that given the state of the economy, it may be possible to hire two new part-time lawyers to take the place of Clift and Steeg "that are no clamoring for benefits."
In Clift's resignation letter, the city attorney said the workload "exceeds what I can provide. The modest compensation, without benefits, and the time these duties take away from my private law practice have presented a financial dilemma that I must resolve, regretfully, by leaving."
Clift has been city attorney for more than a year. Before that, he served more than a dozen years as an assistant city attorney.
Steeg, who works with Clift in private practice, has been an assistant city attorney for nine years.
His resignation letter states that he has to give up his position with "a heavy heart" because of "the lack of health insurance benefits offered by the city."
Steeg also pointed out in his letter that some other part-time city workers and even some non-city employees do get coverage.
"I have to work more files and generate more income from my private office in order to pay for the skyrocketing cost of health insurance," Steeg wrote.
Ferguson said there at least two part-time city employees in one of the unions who get benefits, but added the city has been trying to phase out part-time benefits for years.

Wednesday morning update:

I didn't know the numbers early enough to get them in the story last night, but Clift makes $33,000 annually from the city and Steeg gets $27,000.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Two city lawyers resign

Two city lawyers -- Dale Clift, the city attorney, and Jeff Steeg, an assistant city attorney -- turned in letters of resignation today because, they said, they could not afford the part-time positions unless the city began offering them health care.

Both resignations are effective June 1.

City Councilor Mike Rimcoski said he understands the decision made by the pair and isn't sure what will happen.

"I just don't like being forced into a corner," Rimcoski said.

Rimcoski said that he wants to talk with the rest of the council about the issue "and see if there's anything we can do."

The city attorney's office has two full-time lawyers, Richard Lacey and Ann Baldwin, and three part-time posts, including the city attorney's slot. But one of those posts has been empty for months because they council has refused to consider Mayor Art Ward's choice for it, Edward Krawiecki, Jr, a former city attorney.

If Clift and Steeg step down, all three part-time lawyer jobs would be vacant, leaving only the two full-timers.

Rimcoski said that if Clift and Steeg depart, Ward might wind up having to pay outside lawyers -- at a cost that could easily exceed the cost of health care coverage -- in order to ensure Bristol's legal work gets done.

"Two people can't handle it all," Rimcoski said.

Rimcoski said he anticipates the discussion about how to handle the situation may take place in executive session. It may be too late to add one to tonight's meeting, he said.

Ward could not be reached for comment.

In Clift's resignation letter, the city attorney said the workload "exceeds what I can provide. The modest compensation, without benefits, and the time these duties take away from my private law practice have presented a financial dilemma that I must resolve, regretfully, by leaving."

Clift has been city attorney for more than a year. Before that, he served more than a dozen years as an assistant city attorney.

Steeg, who works with Clift in private practice, has been an assistant city attorney for nine years.

His resignation letter states that he has to give up his position with "a heavy heart" because of "the lack of health insurance benefits offered by the city."

Steeg also pointed out in his letter that some other part-time city workers and even some non-city employees do get coverage.

"I have to work morefiles and generate more income from my private office in order to pay for the skyrocketing cost of health insurance," Steeg wrote.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City can hold referendum whenever it wants

How many times over the years have city lawyers and politicians said there is no way to put a question on the ballot unless residents go out and gather 3,300 or so signatures from registered voters to force the issue? Answer: On hundreds of occasions.

But now we find out that it's not true.

Last night, Dale Clift, the city attorney, summarized this opinion at the City Council meeting, in response to a query raised a month ago by resident Tim Gamache (which councilors subsequently said they'd like to get answered).

What Clift says is astounding to anyone who's sat through many municipal meetings.

In his opinion, he says that "the Mayor, or City Council, each by himself" can put a "proper question" on the ballot.

A proper question can repeal a council action or hogtie future council actions. Trying to get the right wording is a trick for the public, of course, but it's no trick at all for city leaders, who can simply ask the attorneys to write something up that would pass muster.

Clift said there is a key difference between a referendum forced by petition and one that politicans put on the ballot themselves.

If there's a petition drive that forces something onto the ballot, its results are permanent. They can't be reversed except by another public vote.

If the mayor or the council put something on the ballot, they would naturally abide by the results, but there's nothing to stop them from ignoring the referendum results a year or two or ten later. That would matter a lot on some issues, but not at all on others.

What's fascinating is that most of the people serving on the council today -- and perhaps all of them -- said they would put major projects on the ballot if they could.

Well, it turns out they can.

So now we have an interesting question: will they?

It's too late to put anything else on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. But there's nothing to stop the mayor or council (or both) from holding a special referendum on the $130 million school plan, as long as it's worded properly.

Yes, it would cost some money -- $30,000 or so for a special vote, if memory serves me correctly -- but it has happened before.

The 1988 referendum that blocked development of the Hoppers-Birge Pond Nature Preserve was held on Nov. 18th - two weeks after the presidential election that saw George H.W. Bush capture the White House.

If nothing else, Clift's opinion opens the door to a possible new era in Bristol politics, where the public can perhaps pressure officials to put controversial items on the ballot.

Moreoever, there are times when politicians might now find it convenient to throw issues to the people to decide, allowing them to sidestep tough choices themselves.

Either way, I'd be surprised if we don't see more public policy issues on the ballot in Bristol in the months and years ahead.

Whether that's good or bad, I'm not sure.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Stunning ruling on putting issues on the ballot

For years, city lawyers have said the City Council can't put measures on the ballot for a public vote.
But tonight, the city attorney, Dale Clift, said that the council can put questions on the ballot -- and so can the mayor.
I'm blown away by this, because for 14 years I've been told otherwise.
I'll get a copy of Clift's Sept. 30 opinion on this soon and post it on the blog. I'm sure it's not as black and white as it sounds.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Referendum on school projects possible

A public referendum on the $120 million plan to build two new schools remains possible, the city attorney said this week.

Dale Clift, the city attorney, said that as long as the question is phrased properly, a referendum on the issue can be held if 10 percent of the city’s registered voters sign petitions calling for one.

It’s happened before.

Three decades ago, city councilors approved a new kindergarten to eighth grade school on Peacedale Street that voters apparently didn’t want to see built. They gathered signatures, forced a referendum and gunned the project down, according to Clift and Ann Baldwin, an assistant city lawyer.

At the request of city councilors, Clift’s office is preparing a legal opinion laying out exactly what the law requires in order for a public vote to happen.

It doesn’t appear that the City Council can simply request a referendum, officials said. The only clear avenue for holding a referendum is to gather about 3,200 valid signatures.

At least two councilors, Republicans Ken Cockayne and Mike Rimcoski, said they’d like to see voters get a chance to have the last word on the project.

Though there is no group pushing for a referendum, many residents have expressed support for one.

Among them is Sherwood Road resident Tom Doyle, who said that Bristol’s residents should get “to vote on our future.”

 It isn’t clear, though, if anyone intends to pursue the matter.

The city is planning to put construct two 900-student schools beginning in June 2010. Educators say they’ll close a middle school and three aging elementary buildings when the new schools open the doors.

The proposed sites for the new schools are awaiting final approval from the City Council as well as the hiring of architects to do the complex blueprints required before construction can start.

Forcing a referendum is a tough job, as supporters of the chief operating officer proposal found this summer when they had to sweat to get the plan on November’s ballot by collecting more than 3,600 valid signatures.

Getting the right wording is also problematic.

Clift said that the issue on the ballot “cannot be vague” or too broad. He said, too, that his office can’t help write a question for a petition drive. It can only review if afterward.

“Whatever comes along, we’ll look at it,” he said.

But several officials said that something that matches to some degree the wording of the 1970s referendum ought to suffice since it’s already passed legal muster.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Pick up after your dog... or else

The more than 2,500 dog owners in the city can no longer stand idly by after their pooches leave their droppings on private and public property in Bristol.
Unless the dog does its business on the owner’s own land – or someone else’s who doesn’t mind – the city will soon be able to slap a $25 fine.
City councilors unanimously approved the new law Tuesday that mandates dog owners clean up after their pets. The measure specifically applies only to dogs, not to other domestic animals that may wander onto the property of others.
City Councilor Craig Minor, who heads the Ordinance Committee that pushed the new statute, said one interesting twist is that the law requires dog owners to have “a means to clean up after their dog” with them whenever they’re out and about with their pet.
That allows police officers to check to make sure the owner was ready and able to follow through on the law’s mandates without actually witnessing the owner failing to do what the law requires.
That means that dog owners need to have bags or containers with them if they’re out and about with their pets – every time – or they could wind up with a ticket.
City Attorney Dale Clift, who came up with provision, said that someone lacking a means to scoop the poop “is not going to pick up after the dog.”
The existing law in Bristol requires owners to pick up after their pet on school or park property, but nowhere else.
Even now, there’s no leash law in town, though pets are supposed to be “under the control” of owners at all times.
Ignoring the pooper scooper laws in the parks and on school property, imposed in 1995, can lead to $90 fines, a much heftier tab than letting a dog leave its droppings in a neighbor’s yard.
The law goes into effect 14 days after it’s officially published in the newspaper, which will probably occur within a few days.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Organizers of referendum drive have 45 days to gather signatures

Dale Clift, the city attorney, ruled today in this opinion, that those gathering signatures to force a referendum on the chief operating officer proposal have the full 45 days to turn in petitions. That helps give the organizers time to scrape together than 3,100 or so signatures they need.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne, one of those pushing the referendum, said he is "very happy at the thoroughness" and speed with which Clift issued a ruling on the matter. He is also, of course, content with the decision.
Organizers had worried they had to turn in the petitions early enough to have them certified within the 45-day period.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

No more dog droppings

Dog owners will face $25 fines if they fail to clean up after their pets under a new city law slated for passage next month.
The city’s Ordinance Committee this week agreed to recommend that city councilors adopt the new law in order to force dog owners to scoop the poop whenever they walk their animals on public or private property that doesn’t belong to them.
The proposed law would force owners to possess a container or bag at all times “to pick up the doings of the dog,” said Dale Clift, the city attorney.
Clift said that instead of simply mandating that dog owners clean up after their pets – which can be hard to prove unless police officers catch the dog and its owner in the act of leaving the scene of the crime – the language also requires that owners possess something that shows they plan to do their civic duty.
After all, Clift said, someone lacking a means to scoop the poop “is not going to pick up after the dog.”
The existing law in Bristol requires owners to pick up after their pet on school or park property, but that’s it. There’s not even a leash law in town, though pets are supposed to be “under the control” of owners at all times.Ignoring the pooper scooper laws in the parks and on school property, imposed in 1995, can lead to $90 fines.
The city considered extending its poop-scooping law to include the property along sidewalks a decade ago, but dropped the idea because councilors thought the problem was minimal and enforcement unlikely.
There are more than 2,500 registered dogs in the city, with hundreds more unlicensed.
The City Council will likely take up the issue at its July 9 meeting. If the ordinance is approved, it would probably take effect about August 1.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Krawiecki to be nominated

Mayor Art Ward said Monday night that he's going to ask the City Council on Tuesday to appoint Ed Krawiecki, Jr as an assistant city attorney.
Krawiecki, a Republican, was the city attorney during the administration of former Mayor Bill Stortz, also a Republican.
But Ward kept Krawiecki on in the job until Democratic lawyer Dale Clift stepping into the post in May after some prodding by the Democrat-controlled council.
Ward said he decided to ask the council to put Krawiecki into the part-time assistant city attorney's role because there's nobody better for the position.
"We're in difficult times. We're in trying times. That calls for bipartisanship," the mayor said.
Only two city councilors - Republicans Mike Rimcoski and Ken Cockayne - are sure to back the appointment. But Ward said he's hoping the four Democrats will put the community ahead of partisan considerations and vote for Krawiecki as well.
He said that Krawiecki has two and half years of experience in the city's legal issues and a wealth of information about the background of many projects that are ongoing.
Ward said that Krawiecki has also had "positive communication" with state economic development officials and was in on the ground floor of school site negotiations.
That background, the mayor said, can only help the community.
"The need is pressing today to work in a more bipartisan manner," Ward said.
Ward said that Krawiecki was "very contributory and helpful to me" during his first few months in office.
What's more, the mayor said, after he asked for resumes from attorneys interested in the job, not a single Democratic lawyer expressed interest.
Ward said there were some Republicans who sought the job, some of them excellent, but nobody had the experience that Krawiecki possesses. Krawiecki is also a former state House minority leader.
Ward said that neither Krawiecki nor Clift has any qualms about working together.
"This is an opportunity for us to stay on an even keel," the mayor said.
He said that if any councilors oppose the appointment, he hopes they will speak up about their reasons. People deserve to know where everyone stands and why, Ward said.
But, Ward said, he remains hopeful that in the end there will be a unanimous vote to tap Krawiecki for the job.

Update at 9:30 p.m. Monday - In an email this evening, I asked all of the city councilors to discuss their reasons for supporting or opposing Krawiecki. So far, I've only heard back from Cockayne.
Cockayne said he's sure that the four Democrats - Frank Nicastro, Cliff Block, Kevin McCauley and Craig Minor -- will vote against Krawiecki.
He said that if Krawiecki isn't approved, "it will be a loss to the city."
Cockayne said that Krawiecki is the best possible choice for the position because of his sharp legal knowledge, his loyalty to Ward, his personal relations with state development officials and more.
"In the long run, it would hurt Bristol not to pick him," Cockayne said.
He also said that with two Republicans on the council, there ought to be a GOP lawyer at City Hall, too.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Battle lines drawn on chief operating officer

Though city councilors told the Charter Revision Commission to nix the idea of changing the city government’s blueprint to include a chief operating officer, the seven-member panel unanimously agreed Tuesday to push for the plan anyway.
The move opens the door for a referendum drive to begin after the City Council again rejects the city manager-lite concept put forth by the charter panel.
“This is a very important issue,” said Tim Furey, the attorney who heads the charter commission. He said that residents want the opportunity to vote on the suggested change.
The charter panel’s decision followed a 75-minute joint session with councilors that sharpened divisions and set the stage for a push to create the new slot aimed at bringing more efficiency and oversight to City Hall.
Opposition to the scheme focused on its expense and possible lack of support in the community.
City Councilor Mike Rimcoski said officials would be “creating a monster” if they backed the recommendation from the charter panel.
But the other GOP councilor, rookie Ken Cockayne, said it’s important to “let it go to the public and let ‘em vote on it.”
What happens next is that the charter panel will file a final report within a week, after which the council will take a formal vote on each of the commission’s recommendations. Any that are backed will automatically appear on the November 4 general election ballot.
Anything that’s gunned down by the council – as the chief operating officer is almost certain to be – are dead unless supporters can get 10 percent of the city’s registered voters to sign petitions calling for the suggestion to reach the ballot as well. That means about 3,100 signatures will be needed within 45 days of the council’s vote.
Led by city Councilors Craig Minor, a Democrat, and Cockayne, a bipartisan push to gather the required names will begin soon after the council vote.
Seizing on comments by Mayor Art Ward and rookie city Councilor Cliff Block that they’d like to see if there’s enough support to get the required signatures, charter commissioners said they want the council to order city lawyers to help draft the necessary paperwork properly.
Furey said he didn’t want the proposal to die “because someone didn’t dot an I or cross a T.”
Dale Clift, the city attorney, told the charter panel that it could not legally discuss asking the council for legal assistance because the matter wasn’t listed on its meeting agenda. He said discussing it violated open government laws.
But Furey said the request would be part of the panel’s final report and thus was allowable.
Though Clift warned that including it “may jeopardize your final report,” Furey and the commission agreed to make it a part of the document anyway.
Four times they brushed aside warnings by Clift to stop discussing the matter.
“I’m a little flummoxed by it,” Clift said.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Clift is looking forward to new legal post

A new city attorney is virtually certain to be approved Tuesday.
Mayor Art Ward said Monday that he is asking the City Council to back the appointment of Wyland Dale Clift as the city’s new corporate counsel.
Clift, a longtime assistant city lawyer, would take the top job from Edward Krawiecki, Jr, a holdover from the administration of former Mayor Bill Stortz.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be great,” said Clift, 55.
Ward, a Democrat, said that he and Krawiecki, a Republican, agreed early on that they “would go through the transition together.”
“It’s been very fruitful,” Ward said, but Krawiecki wanted to devote his attention to his private practice, clearing the way for Clift to move up.
Ward said that Clift will actually take the office on May 12 so that he and Krawiecki can work side-by-side for a few weeks “to get acclimated to all the issues.”
Clift, who is not particularly tight with Ward, said he will work hard in the part-time job and give the mayor and city leaders the best advice possible.
He said that it helps to have such a wealth of experience in the city attorney’s office, including two veteran full-time lawyers, Ann Baldwin and Richard Lacey. There is also another part-timer, Jeff Steeg, who tends to specialize in real estate issues.
“We tend to do things in a collegial way,” Clift said, and that won’t change.
Steeg and Clift are partners in a general practice downtown law firm they opened in 2004.
Ward said that he plans soon to interview some candidates to fill the part-time assistant city attorney that Clift will be giving up. It’s possible, he said, that a Republican lawyer could get the post.
Ward said that Krawiecki “was very impartial” in giving advice and never played politics.
“He’s very astute, very professional and very complete in everything he does,” Ward said.
Clift began working as a city lawyer about 11 years ago and has done considerable work with ordinance issues, real estate and contracts.
He is a Penn State graduate who earned his law degree from the University of Connecticut in 1984. Clift worked as a probation officer before law school and for the American Radio Relay League while he was studying law.
After becoming a lawyer, Clift worked for a firm in Hartford before leaving to found Nutmeg Community Access Television in 1991. He served as its director until 2004.
Clift is married and has a son at Memorial Boulevard School.


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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Krawiecki out, Clift in

The proposed appointment list for Tuesday's City Council meeting includes Mayor Art Ward's plan to install Dale Clift as the new city corporation counsel. Clift is a long-time assistant city attorney.
Edward Krawiecki, Jr, who was first appointed to the city attorney's slot by former Mayor Bill Stortz, has continued serving in the post since Ward's election.
Krawiecki is a Republican. Clift is, of course, a Democrat.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com