APPOINTMENT
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to appoint Ms. Jennifer Bingham (D) 826 West Drive, Gales Ferry, as an Alternate Member to the Board of Assessment Appeals to complete a four (4) year term ending August 26, 2028 to fill a vacancy left by Mr. Nelson.
end
Background:
Ms. Bingham has a Bachelors of Science in Health Education from Rhode Island College, Class of 2000. In 2025 she received a Certificate of Achievement, Rhode Island Property and Tax Law Administration Course (RI Association of Assessing Officers).
Ms. Bingham is currently employed by the Town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island as the Senior Clerk to the Tax Assessor.
Ms. Bingham is an active participant in the Community as a Girl Scout Leader of Troop 63060 and as a member of the Ledyard Beautification Committee. (please see attached Application)
Administrative Notes:
In accordance with the Town Charter, Chapter IV; Section 6
Board of Assessment Appeals
The Board of Assessment Appeals shall continue to have such powers and duties as are or may be imposed or vested by the General Statutes, upon boards of assessment appeals.
There shall be three regular (3) members, and three (3) alternate members of the Board of Assessment Appeals. During any assessment year in which a revaluation becomes effective, or during which appeals from revaluation are heard, there shall be two (2) additional regular members of the Board of Assessment Appeals, appointed for a term of one year. The Board shall annually select from its membership, a chairman and a vice-chairman.
Thereafter, the Town Council shall fill vacancies on the Board of Assessment Appeals from whatever cause arising, in the manner, for the terms, and with all the powers and duties, not inconsistent with this Charter, as prescribed by the General Statutes or by ordinance adopted pursuant to this Charter.
Nominating Committee Recommendation:
7/20/2025: DTC recommended Ms. Bingham’s appointment to the Board of Assessment Appeals. (please see attached email)
Minority Representation - CGS 9-167a:
In accordance with Chapter IV; Section 8 of the Town Charter “Except as otherwise provided for in this Charter, the Town Council may appoint members to fill vacancies in other offices, boards, and commissions established by this Charter and by ordinance as vacancies may occur, and appointing members to such offices, boards, and commissions as may be created in the future. Such appointments shall be made by the Town Council for such terms and upon such conditions as provided in the respective ordinance”.
Chapter IV, Section 9: “In making appointments and removals, the Town Council shall act by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of all its members.
All members of boards, commissions, and committees contained in this Charter, or subsequently created under this Charter, except members of the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Fire Marshal, and the Deputy Fire Marshal(s), shall be electors of the Town at the time of their appointment and during their terms of office.”
Connecticut General Statutes
Sec. 9-167a. Minority representation. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the maximum number of members of any board, commission, legislative body, committee or similar body of the state or any political subdivision thereof, whether elective or appointive, who may be members of the same political party, shall be as specified in the following table:
|
Total Membership |
Maximum from One Party |
|
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
|
6 |
4 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
8 |
5 |
|
9 |
6 |
|
More than 9 Two-thirds of total membership |
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply (A) to any such board, commission, committee or body whose members are elected wholly or partially on the basis of a geographical division of the state or political subdivision, (B) to a legislative body of a municipality (i) having a town meeting as its legislative body or (ii) for which the charter or a special act, on January 1, 1987, provided otherwise or (C) to the city council of an unconsolidated city within a town and the town council of such town if the town has a town council and a representative town meeting, the town charter provides for some form of minority representation in the election of members of the representative town meeting, and the city has a city council and a body having the attributes of a town meeting or (D) to the board of directors and other officers of any district, as defined in section 7-324, having annual receipts from all sources not in excess of two hundred fifty Thousand dollars.
(b) Prior to any election for or appointment to any such body, the municipal clerk, in cases of elections, and the appointing authority, in cases of appointments, shall determine the maximum number of members of any political party who may be elected or appointed to such body at such election or appointment. Such maximum number shall be determined for each political party in the following manner: From the number of members of one political party who are members of such body at the time of the election or appointment, subtract the number of members of such political party whose terms expire prior to the commencement of the terms for which such election or appointment is being held or made and subtract the balance thus arrived at from the appropriate number specified in column II of subsection (a) of this section.