HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20050802Town Government Study Committee
Minutes, August 2, 2005
Land Bank Office
Call to order. The second meeting of the Town Government Study Committee was
called to order at 4:00 pm by Chairman Allen Reinhard. In attendance were committee
members Jack Gardner, Pamela Lohmann, Jane Miller, Allen Reinhard, Nancy Sevrens,
Jeanette Topham, and Whitey Willauer as well as guests Curtis Barnes and Charity Benz.
Reinhard welcomed members Topham and Miller and verified that all members were
sworn in. [Miller was sworn, but was listed for School Committee; she will correct this].
Minutes. Topham requested a copy of Curtis Barnes' "outline," and proposed that the
minutes be changed from "draft outline" to read "comments to consider as we proceed."
[Done] The minutes were approved as amended. [Sevrens moved, Gardner seconded;
vote 5-0]
Meeting Schedule. After discussion it was agreed the committee will meet twice a month
initially [perhaps more frequently later]. The second and fourth Mondays of the month
were settled on, at the Land Bank Offices. The next meeting will be on Monday, August
22. All members can communicate by e-mail; [Chairman Reinhard has only infrequent
access to e-mail, however; it is best to contact him by cell phone].
Refining the Committee's Charge. Chairman Reinhard circulated a draft statement for
consideration, and solicited review and comments, a mission statement to be adopted at
the next meeting. Miller suggested the committee should "evaluate" as well as "examine"
the current structure of government.
Suggestions should be solicited from the general public and certain invitees.
The committee will want to produce at least an interim report to the Board of Selectmen
and Town Meeting by April 2006, with a final report and possibly suggestions of warrant
articles for the April 2007 Town Meeting. There was some question about the terms of
committee members.
Public Comment. Mr. Barnes felt this was a good approach and indicated he had a list of
people the committee might want to invite, including a consultant to give direction early.
Ms Benz noted the mission should include recommendations.
Charter Review. The committee reviewed the first two articles of the Town Charter.
I. Reinhard noted the charter is the authority granted to the town of Nantucket, by
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to govern itself.
II. 2.1 Issues raised: current form is open Town Meeting; alternatives might include
direct ballot, representative Town Meeting, a Town Council. Currently a small
number of voters (especially on the later days of Town Meeting) often make
major decisions for the majority. On the other hand a representative form would
abandon a long tradition and limit the ability of individuals to participate. In
addition to low attendance, there is the problem of block voting where a group
votes on an issue of special interest and then leaves the meeting. This is not
representative of a broad spectrum of views.
Some ideas to consider: -- limit the number of citizen's articles by increasing the
number of signatures required to bring them to Town Meeting. -- have separate
Town Meeting sessions on zoning issues (financial issues usually are dealt with
the first night). -- proof and refine articles better before submission to Town
Meeting. -- limit Town Meeting consideration to broad policy decisions, not
complex details.
2.3 The alternate moderator should be publicized in advance. There should not be
a change in the order of consideration of the articles.
2.5 Should the charter specify publication on line as well as in newspapers? The
requirement that the Finance Committee review all articles (even those not
necessitating funding) is cumbersome; they don't have adequate staff to do so.
Should the charter include the [state?] requirement that the Planning Board review
zoning articles? What are exactly the state requirements for Fin Com and
Planning?
III. 3.1 There are problems when selectmen are absent or recuse themselves: a 2-2 tie
leaves the issue unresolved and indefinitely pending. What are proper reasons for
recusal, and do they need to be stated?
What is the effect of the current election process when many candidates run for
few positions? Is a different system for elections possible?
Currently the Board can decide matters by a two-person majority of a three-
person quorum; should a majority of the whole board be required?
3.4 The powers of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator are
distinguished in terms of their focus and appointing powers: the Selectmen
appoint the Town Administrator and are to focus on the "big picture;" the Town
Administrator appoints department heads and manages day-to-day matters. There
was some discussion of the process for committee appointments.
The Board of Selectmen functions also as a Board of Health, Board of Public
Works; is it time to separate out these functions?
Next Meeting. The committee will review Charter articles III and IV together. Reinhard
distributed the Final Report of the original Town and County Charter Commission as
background to review for next time as well.
Adjournment. There being no other business, the committee adjourned at 5:30 pm
Respectfully submittted
Pamela Lohmann