Haddam Democratic Town Committee Members and Honorary Members


Elected Haddam Democratic Town Committee Members

Haddam, CT 06438      Higganum, CT 06441        Haddam Neck 06424

1. Chris Alexy             chris _alexy@yahoo.com

2. Paula Bertuch  40 Lt Shubael Rd (PO Box 480) Higganum (345-4151) lshubael@aol.com

3. Paul Best  184 Old County Rd Higganum (345-7997) merida@snet.net

4.  Louise Chambers  242 Pokorny Rd ( PO Box 523 ) Higganum (345-4095)danloufi@aol.com 5.  Diane Clowes 373 Saybrook Rd Higganum (345-4570) dianeclowes@sbcglobal.net

6. Rusty Clowes  373 Saybrook Rd Higganum (345-4570) clowesline@sbcglobal.net

7. Marge DeBold  372 Saybrook Rd Higganum (345-4103) mwdebold@juno.com

8. Sean Donlan  875 Saybrook Rd Haddam (345-3998) sdonlan@dpapc.com

9. John Fernandes Scovil Rd. Ext. PO Box 205 Higganum (930-5868) john@ibewlocal457.org

10. Marilyn Fowler  16 Walkley Hill Rd Haddam (345-8340)

11. Mal Gorin  102 Timms Hill Rd Haddam (345-2932) lmgorin@comcast.net

12. Linda Gorin 102 Timms Hill Rd Haddam (345-2932) lmgorin@comcast.net

13. Ann Huffstetler  36 Haddam View Heights Haddam (345-2807) townclerk@haddam.org

14. Steve Kanaras  32 McTigh Rd Higganum (345-7742) kanarasrealty@sbcglobal.net

15. Dave Kapitulik  31 Ponsett Rd Higganum (345-4250) thekaps@comcast.net

16. Chris Lassen  16 Walkley Hill Rd Haddam (345-8801) tammyannandchris@hotmail.com

17. Carianne Lirot 6 Staba Dr Higganum (554-5013) cariannebarkie@yahoo.com

18. Matt Macunus 16 Ponsett Rd Higganum (345-3432) matt_macunus@hotmail.com

19. Bruno Morasutti  272 Walkley Hill Rd Haddam (345-2813) brm@lubyolso.com

20. Peggy Morrill 214 Grapevine Higganum mmorrill214@hotmail.com

21. Susan Oehl Sima Rd Trail Higganum (267-0388) susietree@earthlink.net 

22. Fran Oktavec  227 Little City Rd Rd Higganum (345-2602)

23. Amy Roper  75 Parmelee Rd Haddam (345-8309) wonkyworks@comcast.net

24. Wayne Rutty  34 Rutty Lane Haddam (345-4049) wayne_rutty@midhosp.org

25. Ed Schwing  143 Church Hill Rd Haddam (345-2730) eschwing68@comcast.net

26. Charles Steinhilper, Sr.  89 Thayer Rd Higganum (345-4357)

27. Kathleen Sullivan 51 Bartman Rd Higganum (345-2840) kts51@comcast.net

28. Dawn Tarbetsky 107 High St Higganum (345-2211) tarbetsky@aol.com

29. Walter Zilahy 41 Lt Shubael Rd Higganum (345-9252) wzilahy@comcast.net

Haddam DTC Honorary Membership

1. Cynthia Nicastro

2. Susan Bailey

3. Bob Baranoff ( Board of Ed)

4. Tony Bondi ( First Selectman)

5. Tom Dudek

6. Richard Hickish (Town Treasurer)

7. Peter Petrini

8. Kate Salerno

9. Leslie Starr

10. Janet C. Bower

11. Robert Delvecchio

12. Craig Martin

 

Note: Honorary membership is offered to members, who for one reason or another, are not re-nominated/elected to the Town Committee Slate but have served the committee in the past. They receive meeting minutes, invitations to all events, and are welcome to assist in activities whenever their time allows. They are individuals who desire to remain connected and involved, at this level, without voting rights.

 

The Role of a Committee Member

The Caucus of the Haddam Democratic Party is the core authority for all work of the Party in our Town. The Caucus elects members of the Committee and approves our By-Laws.

These By-Laws in turn give the Haddam Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) the authority to conduct the party's business as representatives of all Haddam Democrats.

The Committee is the working "board of directors" and management team for a political party conducting the business of our 1500 constituents.

Mission Of The HTDC

None of these individual activities are easy; all of them together add up to an important and difficult mission, which requires your involvement.


Duties of town committee members


Each Member of the HDTC is expected to serve on at least one standing committee or to serve as an Officer of the HDTC.

 

Nominating committee: (9 members)

 

Campaign Committee

 

Political Committee

 

Membership- Social-Fund Raising Committee

 

By laws Committee

 

I n addition, the Party's leaders may ask members to take on additional responsibilities as needed.


Each Member is expected to:

Attend meetings of Town Boards and Commissions to understand the issues, personalities, our opposition and the performance of our own people.

Rules and Regulations

 

Democratic Town Committee

Party Rules Town of Haddam, Connecticut

Pursuant to the authority granted by the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut and in conformity with the Election Laws of the State as amended in 1971, the rules for the government of the Democratic Party of the Town of Haddam are adopted, effective immediately upon their filing with the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and the Haddam Town Clerk to read as follows:

Preamble

•  All public meetings of the Democratic party of Haddam shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of age, race, color, creed, sex, or national origin,

•  No test for membership in, nor oath of loyalty to the Democratic Party shall be required or used which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Democratic Party to acquiesce in, condone, or support discrimination of any kind, including age, race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.

•  The time and place of all public meetings of the Democratic Party shall be publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings shall be held in places accessible to all party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.

•  The Democratic Party shall support the broadest possible registration without discrimination of any kind, including age, race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.

•  The Democratic Party shall publicize local procedures for selection of Democratic Party off i cers and representatives in such fashion that prospective and current members of the party may be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time for participation in each selection procedure.

•  The Democratic Party shall adopt an aff i rmative action plan designed to encourage full participation by all Democrats in the delegate selection process and in all party affairs.

•  Any person eighteen (18) years of age or more, who is an enrolled Democratic elector, may participate in any and all party meetings, caucuses and conventions and may be elected to any party off i ce except where specifically prohibited by law.

Definitions

The term "Primary Date" as used in these Rules means the Primary Date as set by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut.

The term "State Primary Law" as used in these rules refers to Title 9, Chapter 153 of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut as contained in the Connecticut Election Laws, issued by the Secretary of the State, as amended.

The term "town office" as used in these Rules means any elective office in Haddam.

 
Article 1
Democratic Town Committee
 

Section 1: Policy. The policies of the Democratic Party of the Town of Haddam shall be formulated and translated into action by the Democratic Town Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Town Committee).

Section 2 : Composition. The Town Committee shall consist of thirty (30) members who shall be elected at large in accordance with procedures specif i ed in Article 4.

Section 3: Duties of Members. It shall be the duty of each member to: (1) attend at least f i fty percent (50%) of the meetings of the Town Committee; (2) perform duties assigned by vote of the Town Committee; (3) support the regularly nominated candidates of the Democratic Party; and (4) participate in the fund-raising activities of the Town Committee. Any committee appointed to nominate a slate of Town Committee members shall take into consideration the
performance of these duties by each incumbent member.

Section 4: Increase or Decrease Membership. The Town Committee, at a meeting called for the purpose, may, by majority vote of those present and voting, increase or decrease its membership, provided that a quorum is present and that all new members shall be duly elected and begin their term on the first Monday following the Primary Date as set by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut.

Section 5 : Terms of Membership. Terms of Town Committee members shall start on the first Monday after the Primary Date (as set by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut) at which they are elected, and they shall serve two years or until their successors shall have been elected , but not more than 26 months. The terms of all members shall end on the same day.

Section 6: Vacancies. Any vacancy on the Town Committee, arising from any cause, may be filled by the Town Committee by a majority vote of members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose, provided that a quorum is present.

Article 2
Officers

Section 1: Election. Within six (6) weeks after election , the members-elect of the Town Committee shall meet for organization and shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson , a Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed advisable. Such organization meeting shall be called by the incumbent Chairperson of the Town Committee. If the
Chairperson fails to do so, such meeting shall be called by a State Central Committee person of the district.

Section 2: Qualification, Town Committee Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Town Committee shall be elected from the list of registered Democrats eligible to vote in the Town of Haddam, whether from within or without the membership of the Town Committee.

Section 3 : Duties, Town Committee Chairperson. The Town Committee Chairperson shall preside over the Town Committee. In the event a vote is taken resulting in a tie, such tie shall be dissolved by the vote of the Chairperson, but this shall not affect the right of the Chairperson to cast any vote as a member of the Town Committee.

The Town Committee Chairperson may appoint and dismiss committees or members thereof; these appointments and dismissals shall be subject to majority vote of members present and voting at a meeting with a quorum present. The Town Committee Chairperson shall notify members of any vacancies at the first meeting to follow the creation of such vacancy. The Town Committee Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and shall be responsible for their proper functioning.

Section 4: Qualification, Other Off i cers. The officers of the Town Committee other than the Chairperson shall be elected from within the membership of the Town Committee.

Section 5: Duties of Other Off i cers. Each off i cer shall have the duties usually applicable to the off i ce and such other duties as the Town Committee may from time to time prescribe.

The Vice-Chairperson shall preside over the Town Committee in the absence of the Chairperson.

The Secretary shall maintain the membership list and the minutes, and shall provide members with notice of upcoming meetings and events.

The Treasurer shall maintain f i nancial accounts of the Town Committee in conformance with state law.

Section 6: Filing List of Officers and Members. Within one week after organization, the Secretary of the Town Committee sha l l f il e with the Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee and the Town of Haddam Democratic Registrar of Voters a list of the names and addresses of the officers and members of the Town Committee. A copy of such list shall be filed with the Town Clerk of Haddam.

Section 7 : Vacancies in Town Committee Offices. A vacancy in any office of the Town Committee, arising from any cause , shall be filled by majority vote of Town Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose and with a quorum present.

Section 8 : Removal of Officers. Off i cers of the Town Committee may be removed for just cause from their official positions by a two-thirds (2/3 rds ) vote of Town Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose and with a quorum present.

Article 3
Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meetings. The Town Committee shall hold regular monthly meetings. A majority of those present and voting may cancel the next meeting or change the particular day of the regular meeting. The Chairperson shall have the authority to cancel a meeting for due cause.

Section 2: Notice of Regular Meetings. Notice of regular meetings shall be made by mail or phone to members at least five (5) days before such meetings.

Section 3 : Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson at the . discretion of the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall call a meeting within f i fteen (15) days upon receiving a written request signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the members of the Committee. The Chairperson shall instruct the secretary to give at least five (5) days written notice of the time, place and purpose of any special meeting to all members of the Committee.

Section 4: Quorum. Two-fifths (2/5ths) of the membership of the Town Committee shall constitute a quorum at a meeting.

Article 4
Committees

Section 1: Establishment of Committees and Chairpersons. The Chairperson of the Town Committee shall appoint Committee Chairpersons and committee members, subject to approval by a majority vote of Town Committee members at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose.

Section 2: Committee Membership. Unless otherwise noted, all committees shall consist of three (3) or more members. Members of committees may be members of the Town Committee, but are not required to be such. All committee members must be registered Democrats in the Town of Haddam.

Section 3: Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven (7) to nine (9) members and include members from each of the four (4) voting districts, whenever possible.

This committee shall prepare slates of candidates for: (1) Town Committee membership, (2) municipal elections, and (3) delegations to municipal, district, or state conventions. To encourage open discussion at Nominating Committee meetings, prospective candidates and their immediate relatives shall excuse themselves from any discussions involving their
candidacy or the office in question. Members of the Nominating Committee who either volunteer or respond to a draft to fill a position on a candidate slate shall not participate in any discussions regarding their candidacy or the office/position in question.

Section 4: Campaign Committee. The Campaign Committee shall be responsible for managing the political campaign activities related to town elections , and assisting in state or federal elections within the Town of Haddam. The Campaign Committee shall appoint a Campaign Treasurer for town elections, whose responsibilities are subject to state law.

Section 5: Fundraising Committee. The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for raising monies needed for Town Committee and/or campaign expenses.

Section 6: Ad Hoc Committees. The Chairperson of the Town Committee may appoint Chairpersons and members of Ad Hoc Committees as necessary to fulf i ll the responsibilities of the Town Committee.

 
Article 5
Nomination of Candidates
 

Section 1: Candidate Slates. The slate of candidates selected by the Nominating Committee shall be submitted at a regular meeting of the Town Committee or a special meeting called for that purpose. At this meeting, nominations of any candidates may be made from the floor of any candidates, and the candidates receiving a plurality of votes of those present and voting shall be deemed the choice of the Town Committee.

Section 2: Endorsement by Party Caucus. At a caucus of party members called for that purpose not earlier than forty-nine (49) days before or later than thirty-f i ve (35) days before the Primary Date of the election (as set by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut), the slate chosen by the Town Committee shall be nominated. Any other candidates may be nominated from the floor. Those receiving the plurality of votes of those present and voting shall be deemed the party-endorsed slate. All nominations shall have the consent of the nominees.

Article 6
Party Caucuses

Section 1: Conduct of Caucus. The time and place for holding party caucuses shall be determined by the Town Committee, and notice of the time, place and purpose shall be given at least f i ve (5) days, not counting day of publication, in advance of the caucus by publication in a newspaper having general circulation in Haddam and by posting the same at the Town Off i ce Building. The time of any caucus shall be f i xed so as to comply with the provisions of the State Primary Law, as the same may be amended from time to time, and to rules of the State Central Committee.


The Chairperson of the Town Committee shall be the temporary Chairperson of all caucuses and shall preside until the meeting has selected its permanent Chairperson. In like manner the Secretary of the Town Committee shall act as Secretary until the meeting has selected its Secretary. The caucus shall be conducted in conformity with the provisions of Section 9-396 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as these may be amended from time to time, specifying who is eligible to vote and the procedure for voting by ballot.

Section 2: Special Caucuses. Special caucuses may be called for any lawful purpose by a majority of the Town Committee or by not less than ten percent (10%) of the registered Democratic voters in the town. The call for any such caucus shall be in writing addressed to the Town Committee Chairperson and shall be signed by each of the persons issuing the same.
Notice of the time, place and purpose of said special caucus shall be given to all registered Democratic voters of the town, at least five (5) days in advance, by publication in a newspaper having general circulation in Haddam and by posting the same at the Town Off i ce Building.

No such caucus shall be called for the purpose of the removal of the Town Committee except by the Chairperson of the State Central Committee upon petition of not less than ten percent (10%) of the registered Democratic voters of the town and upon showing to the satisfaction of the Chairperson of the State Central Committee that the existing Town Committee has failed to perform its legal or proper functions. If such a caucus votes to remove a Town Committee during its term of off i ce, the permanent Chairperson of the caucus shall fix a day not less than six (6) and not more than seven (7) weeks thereafter for the holding of a primary for the election of Town Committee members and shall publish the same in a newspaper having general circulation in the Town of Haddam and posting the same at the Town Off i ce Building, not less than forty-two (42) days before such primary is to be held.

The procedure for the election of a Town Committee shall be the same as in April of the even-numbered years, except that no party endorsement for Town Committee members shall be made and all candidates for election to the Town Committee shall file their candidacies in accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of the Primary Act, and the Town Committee members shall be chosen at the primary, except as provided in Section 28 of said Act. Town Committee members so elected shall hold office from the time of their election until the fourteenth (14 t h ) day of April of an even-numbered year.

Section 3 : Tie Vote. In the case of a tie vote at a party caucus, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the permanent Chairperson thereof, but this provision shall not affect the right of the Chairperson to cast any vote to which s/he may be entitled as a member of the caucus. The Chairperson cannot vote twice.

Article 7
Elections

Section 1: Primary Elections. The Town Committee shall by law f i x the date of any primary election for election of Town Committee members, delegates to conventions, or candidates for town offices, in accordance with the decisions of the State Central Committee in each instance.
The date of the primary shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the Town of Haddam and shall be posted at the Town Office Building at least fifty-six (56) days beforehand, on the initiative and at the expense of the Town Committee.

Section 2: Election Without Primary. If no valid opposing candidacies for Town Committee membership or delegates to conventions have been filed with the Town Clerk in accordance with legally required procedures by four p.m. (4:00) on the twenty-first (21 st ) day preceding the date of the Democratic primary for such offices, the party endorsed candidates shall be deemed elected as of the primary date. If no valid candidacies for town offices are filed within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, the party-endorsed candidates for such offices shall be deemed the nominees of the Democratic Party at the town elections without a primary having been held.

Article 8
Nominated Candidates

 

Section 1: Certif i cation of Party-Endorsed Candidates. The Secretary and the Chairperson or presiding off i cer of the Town Committee meeting or caucus, as the case may be, shall certify to the Town Clerk the names and street addresses of the party endorsed candidates, the title of off i ce or position as Committee member or delegate for which each person is endorsed, and the date upon which the primary is to be held.

Section 2: Vacancies in Nomination. If a nomination has been made for a town or municipal off i ce and the nominee thereafter, but prior to twenty-four (24) hours before the opening of the polls on the day of election for which the nomination has been made, dies, withdraws his/her name or for any reason becomes disqualif i ed to hold the off i ce for which s/he has been nominated, a nomination to f i ll such vacancy may be made by the Town Committee members
present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose. In the case of a withdrawal, said nomination shall not be valid until the candidate who has withdrawn has f i led a letter with the Secretary of State and the Town Clerk. The permanent Chairperson of the caucus shall be empowered to fill any vacancies that exist within f i ve (5) days of the election.

Section 3: Vacancy in Party-Endorsed Candidacy. If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to a town off i ce or for election as a Town Committee member or delegate to a convention, prior to twenty-four (24) hours before the opening of the polls at the primary , dies, or, prior to ten (10) days before the day of the primary withdraws his / her name from nomination, or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the off i ce or position for which s / he is a candidate, an endorsement may be made to fill such vacancy by the Town Committee, by majority vote of those present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose. The Secretary of the Town Committee shall immediately certify the endorsement to fill such vacancy to the Democratic Registrar or Voters. No candidate shall have been deemed to have withdrawn until a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate is filed with the Town Clerk. The permanent Chairperson of the caucus shall be empowered to f i ll any vacancies that exist within five (5) days of the election.

Article 9
Delegates and Alternates to State Conventions

In conformity with the law, each delegate may appoint an alternate delegate to any convention to act for the delegate in his / her absence. In the absence of a delegate and his/her alternate, the Town Committee Chairperson shall fill the vacancy by appointing a proxy. The elected delegates and alternates must advise the Town Committee five days before any convention date as to their attendance.

Article 10
Amendments to Local Party Rules

Party Rules may be amended by a majority vote of Town Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for the purpose. Amendments shall be consistent with state law and State Party Rules.

Article 11
Filing of Local Party Rules

Within seven (7) days after Party Rules or any amendments to Party Rules are adopted by the Town Committee, a copy of the same shall be f i led with the Secretary of the State and with the Town Clerk. Any amendments so f i led shall set forth in full the section to be amended. Matters to be omitted or repealed shall be surrounded by brackets and new matter shall be indicated by underscoring.

A copy of these rules shall be f i led with the Town Clerk and shall be deemed to cover the activities of the Democratic Party of Haddam until amendments consistent with these Rules and the State Primary Laws are adopted.

 

Article 12
Conflict with Law

If any provision of these Rules is found to be in conflict with the provisions of any law, such provisions of law shall govern.

Article 13
Parliamentary Procedure

Robert's Rules of Order shall be construed as applicable, controlling and conclusive on all parliamentary issues, except as herein otherwise provided.

 

 

 

Haddam Democratic Town Committee Town Hall



 

 

 

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