2006 Action Agenda

Approved by the Association of Canaan Democrats on March 8, 2006

As we warned last fall, Canaan’s government is functioning without any clear direction, without a vision and without a leader at the helm. Returning our government to the business of serving the interests of a majority of its residents, irrespective of affiliation, we think will require focused and resolute action by our Town Board. All of the following recommendations are within the power of the Town Board to effect. Through its membership and through its representatives on the Town Board, the Association of Canaan Democrats advocates that our government:

1. Conduct a thorough review of the extent to which Canaan’s assessment policies meet or exceed the requirements of State law and make a report to residents of their findings

2. Whether by mediation or negotiation, resolve the lawsuits pending against the Town pertaining to its assessment policies

3. Draft rules respecting the management of the relationship between the Town’s attorneys and the members of the Town Board (a) to permit greater access to the attorneys by Board members and (b) to ensure that legal opinions are not used as a means of justifying political agendas.

Among other ideas, require that all legal opinions be delivered in writing to all Board members before any action is taken on a decision about which a legal opinion has been solicited, provide ample time for questioning an interpretation of law before acting on the interpretation, develop standards for access to counsel that balance the need for easy access with the need to control expenses, and rescind the resolution that prohibits access to the attorneys by Board members other than the Supervisor

4. Define the specific tasks that shall be the responsibility of the Supervisor and reaffirm that, consistent with NYS Town law, all other tasks are the responsibility of all members of the Town Board

5. Conduct a workshop for the Board and for the public devoted to the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meeting Law, and proper use of Executive Sessions

6. Resurrect the strategic planning process in Canaan

7. Finalize and publish the updated and modernized version of Canaan's Zoning Law

8. Publish all Town Laws

9. Encourage public input regarding the proposed salt shed and search for alternatives to the $540,000 proposal