HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20060622Town Government Study Committee
Draft Minutes, June 22, 2006
Land Bank Office
Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the twentysixth meeting of the Town
Government Study Committee to order at 8:06 am. Present were members Reinhard,
Gardner, Lohmann, Sevrens, and Willauer, and guests Bill Sherman and John Gardner.
Minutes. The minutes of June 12 were approved as submitted.
Future Meeting Schedule. Reinhard presented a list of possible future meeting dates,
noting conflicts with the usual meeting times on July 10 and August 14. He has heard
from Town Counsel DeRensis that he is willing to meet with us and would prefer a
morning meeting in late July. The following dates and times were agreed upon for the
summer, subject to later adjustment; all at the Land Bank Office:
Monday, June 26. 4:00 pm Monday, August 7, 4:00 pm
Monday, July 3, 4:00 pm Tuesday, August 15, 4:00 pm
Tuesday, July 11, 8:00 am Monday, August 21, 4:00 pm
Tuesday, July 18, 4:00 pm Monday, August 28, 4:00 pm
Monday, July 24, 4:00 pm Monday, September 11, 4:00 pm
Monday, July 31, 4:00 pm Monday, September 25, 4:00 pm
[Highlighted dates deviate from the normal second and fourth Monday schedule].
Discussion of Possible TGSC Recommendations. The committee continued to discuss
and consider topics to recommend and forward to the consultants.
City Council form of Government. Reinhard asked the committee to consider the pros
and cons of a city council form of government. Willauer felt it would not be as
responsive to the citizens as the current form. Open Town Meeting requires the
government to involve and empower the citizens, [including nonresident taxpayers], and
provides checks and balances for the different demographic groups. Sherman commented
that Open Town Meeting depends on people being involved; if the community is too
large for public involvement, a City Council might be better, but that is not the case here.
There is also a strong history of "pure" democracy here. Lohmann felt that Town
Meeting, though somewhat cumbersome, was still working well. Sevrens felt there has
been better control of debate, and Town Meeting is working better; she did not see
advantaged of the City Council form.
Willauer was concerned about the many issues the Board of Selectmen [BOS] have to
deal with, and how to manage them, being accountable but not in control. Gardner
commented that the staff should give recommendations and information to the BOS, that
BOS should set policy and make decisions. Sevrens, too, felt communication with the
administration was important. Willauer felt Town Meeting provided input and guidance
to the BOS as well. As with the Master Plan, working from the bottom up, rather than top
down, is a better approach that yields a better product. Reinhard noted that it seemed the
consensus was to continue with the existing system for now. This might be revisited in
the future; perhaps the development of area and neighborhood plans might someday lead
to enabling a representative form of town government.
Audit Committee. Reinhard said Mr. Groux had been a consultant for developing the
Longmeadow audit committee [AC] proposal, which was not adopted, and urged we
consult him before deciding. Willauer noted there are two issues, whether to make an
audit committee mandatory, and the composition of the committee. There is a backlog
that has to be caught up, and various problems with auditing which need to be fixed
before making changes. Lohmann wondered if the problems have to do with the AC not
being mandatory. Sevrens felt independent,outside expertise is important, and the
Finance Committee endorses the idea. Sherman wondered why the creation of an AC
should not simply be made mandatory in the Charter, as many of the BOS powers are.
Willauer asked whether the town audit should include review of the separate Airport and
Water audits. Reinhard will refer these questions to Groux.
Administrative Personnel Policies. Reinhard noted that the issue of town employees
serving on voluntary committees and boards had been raised. While it is a matter of
administration policy that the TGSC cannot dictate, we can inquire into the policies and
make recommendations. Willauer reported that one audit comment was that there was no
centralized tracking of employees' sick and comp. time. Gardner noted that each
department does it on its own; the DPW had a time clock; others have time cards
reviewed by supervisors. Reinhard noted that the issue is the time spent, and how it is
compensated. Sherman noted that it is a mater of judgement: some town employees
attend committee meetings as part of their job. The town Administrative Code should
make it clear that it is not appropriate to attend voluntary meetings on town time unless it
is part of the job. It is up to the department heads to enforce. Willauer was concerned
with evenhandedness of enforcement. Sevrens said the policy should be clear, everyone
should know the ground rules. Gardner said the BOS should set the policy, communicate
it to the Town Administrator, who conveys it to the department heads.
Reinhard asked the committee members to review the list of topics on the agenda and
bring up any additional issues we want to pursue.
Adjournment. At 9:30 am
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Lohmann