Analysis of Brighton Town Government

1
Analysis of Brighton Town Government
December 2006
Danny Schwartz Democracy Inaction Professor
Michael Arnush
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Effectiveness of Brighton Town Government

• Thesis The effectiveness of a representative
  democracy in Brighton Town government is
  evidenced by the opportunities for citizen
  participation and the process by which citizens
  are involved with decision making for the benefit
  of the community.

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History of Brighton Town Government

• Established 1814
• First town meeting elected government officials
• Williams, Helen. Sesquicentennial History of the
  Town of Brighton 1814 - 1964. New York The
  sesquicentennial committee 1965.
• Today all members of Town Board are Democrats.
• Democratic town officials continuously elected
  for the past 17 years.

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Demographics of Town of Brighton, NY

• Location Brighton is a southeastern suburb of
  Rochester, NY
• County of Monroe
• Population approximately 35,588 residents.
• Median household income 52,066
• Racial mix
• Caucasian 86.1
• Asian 8.1
• African American 3.7
• Hispanic 2.3
• Native American 0.1
• Census Demographic Profile Highlights. 2000.
  Brighton town, Monroe County, New York.
  American FactFinder. 2000. Bureau of the
  Census. 7 November 2006. lthttp//factfinder.cen
  sus.gov/servletgt

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Brighton Town Government
Brighton pamphlet. Supervisor Office. 2006
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Citizen Participation

• Voting for town officials
• 8 volunteer citizen boards
• Town Board meetings are very accessible to
  citizens
• Live broadcast on local channel 12
• Citizens can attend meetings
• Use of AIM or call in during meetings
• Unlimited amount of time to speak at open forum

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The McMansion Issue
VS.
McMansion Power !
NIMBY NOT IN MY BACKYARD!
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McMansion issue Decision making process
Residents voice concerns to Town Board Town Board
creates Task Force February 2006 Demolition
Moratorium issued to halt further building
demolitions Town meetings and open forums held to
inform public of issue and allow for citizen
comments Citizen comments incorporated into
drafts for demolition regulations and site
plans July 2006 Town Board adopted new
regulations for addressing demolition of homes
and site plan approval for construction of new
homes First draft of Zoning amendments prepared
by Task Force October 2006 draft presented for
public review at Town meeting Task Force to
review citizen comments and prepare second draft
for vote by Town Board Amendments will be
incorporated into building code
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Can we consider Brighton to be an effective
democracy?

• Organized legislative body
• Competent leader with limited power
• Equal opportunity citizen participation
• Voluntary action
• Means for keeping citizens well informed

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Limitation to effective democracy in Brighton

• Citizen participation impact on legislation can
  not be objectively measured
• Voluntary participation results in small number
  of citizens attending meetings and providing
  input compared to total town population and

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Citizen participation and impact on legislation
Brighton compared to Saratoga Springs and Athens

• Saratoga Springs
• Representative democracy
• Citizen boards, city council meetings and monthly
  town hall meetings
• Limited time to speak in council meetings
• City council passes legislation
• Ancient Athens
• Direct democracy
• Assembly members citizens vote directly on
  legislation
• Limited definition of citizen
• Small segment of population makes decisions for
  all

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Conclusion

• Modern day democracy in Brighton, NY has roots
  in the process of ancient Athens
• McMansion issue demonstrates citizen and
  government interacting to make decisions for
  community
• Brighton has characteristics of an effective
  democracy
• Limitations to effectiveness
• May not be possible to achieve a completely
  effective democracy

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Works Cited

• A Demolition and Site Plan Review Local Law.
  2006.
• 24 Oct. 2006.
• lthttp//www.townofbrighton.org/teardownfinal.htm
  gt
• Boards and Commisions. 2006. 19 Nov. 2006.
  lthttp//www.townofbrighton.org/boards.htmgt
• Census Demographic Profile Highlights 2000.
  Brighton town, Monroe County, New York.
  American FactFinder. 2000.
• Bureau of the Census. 7 November 2006.
  lthttp//factfinder.census.gov/servletgt.
• Making democracy work. The World Book
  Encyclopedia D Volume 5. Chicago World Book
  Inc 2006.
• Morrell, Alan. Brighton Curbs McMansions
  Rochester Democrat Chronicle. July 27 2006
  1A, 2A. Newsbank Inc. 4 Nov. 2006.
  lthttp//nl.newbank.comgt
• Pamphlet-Town of Brighton-Supervisor office 2006.

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Works Cited (cont)

• Robinson, E.W., ed. Ancient Greek Democracy
  Readings and Sources. Oxford Blackwell, 2004.
• Schwartz, D. Email to City of Saratoga Mayor
  Valerie Keehn. November 2006.
• Schwartz, D. Personal Interview with James Vogel,
  Brighton Town Councilperson. November 2006.
• Schwartz, D. Personal Interview with Sandra
  Frankel, Brighton Town Supervisor. November
  2006.
• Schwartz, D. Email to James Vogel, Brighton Town
  Councilperson. 30.
• Dec. 2006.
• Schwartz, D. Email to Tom Lowe, Brighton
  Commissioner of Public Works. 30. Dec. 2006.
• Williams, Helen. Sesquicentennial History of the
  Town of Brighton 1814- 1964. New
  York The sesquicentennial committee 1965.