HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20060123Town Government Study Committee
Minutes, January 23, 2006
Land Bank Office
Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the eleventh meeting of the Town Government
Study Committee [TGSC] to order at 4:04 pm. Present were members Reinhard, Sevrens,
Lohmann, Topham, and guest Barnes.
Minutes. The minutes of 9 January were approved as corrected.
Public Forum with the Nantucket Civic League [NCL]. The Civic League Forum will
be from 4:30 to about 5:45, followed by informal discussion over refreshments. It will be
either in the Great Hall of the Atheneum or in the high school cafeteria, site still to be
determined. The NCL will arrange for and the TGSC will fund the televising; there will
be microphones for the TV, but not for the room.
The NCL President, D.Anne Atherton, will act as moderator and introduce chairman
Reinhard. Reinhard will introduce the TGSC members and give a brief background on
our procedures and progress and some issues and questions we've identified. He will then
introduce Keith Bergman, who will comment on governance issues and options, based on
his experience. There will follow a period of audience participation, with an opportunity
for the public to ask questions and to give feedback on how local government might
better serve them.
Sevrens stressed that the TGSC is not yet ready to make any conclusions or
recommendations.
Barnes suggested target audiences be notified of the meeting, such as the Chamber of
Commerce, the Town Association, etc. Will the Selectmen be invited? Yes. He offered to
notify the Builders and Realtor's Associations. Lohmann noted that the Civic League has
a list of groups they notify of their meetings, as well as publicizing them; she will check
with the NCL to assure broadest notification.
Topham asked about remuneration for Bergman; Reinhard said he is in contact but that
has not yet been determined.
Massachusetts Municipal Association [MMA]. Member Willauer joined the meeting at
this point. He reported on the MMA conference he, as well as some of his colleagues on
the Board of Selectmen [BOS], had attended. Many Massachusetts towns face the same
issues as Nantucket. The governor and two candidates spoke, there were many good
workshops on the problems and proposed solutions for Massachusetts municipalities.
Meeting with Keith Bergman. Our TGSC will meet with Mr. Bergman at 3:00 pm, prior
to the NCL Forum, either in the conference room of the high school, if the forum is in the
high school cafeteria, or at the Land Bank office, if the forum is in the Atheneum. We
will adjourn at 4:15 to go to the forum. Member Gardner joined the meeting at this time.
Reinhard asked members to consider what questions we might have for Bergman. Some
suggestions:
- Why separate the Board of Health from the Board of Selectmen? [NS]
- Ask about his experience. [AR, JT]
- Clarify the distinction between Town Administrator & Manager [AR]
- Explain references to relevant State laws. [PL]
- Nantucket is growing; look at what larger towns do. [NS]
- Communication with public harder with larger size [AR, NS]
- Limited power of BOS; difficulty of dealing with complex issues without
expertise; balancing of political representation and technical expertise. [WW, PL]
- How to tap resources, local expertise, deliver services; [WW, AR]
- Criteria, qualifications, term limits for appointments to encourage participation?
[WW, NS]
- Roles of Planning Board and Planning Commission, zoning [JT]
- Also of HDC, Conservation Commission, Right of Way Committee [WW]
- How to finance hiring consultants? Enterprise funds, grants? [NS, JG]
Willauer noted he will have to be away for the meeting with Bergman.
Reinhard asked members to write down specific questions and send them to him.
Preliminary Report. Reinhard submitted a proposal for the form of the committee's
interim report:
A. Oral presentation to the BOS and the Town and County Administrator in late
March
B. Written summary of the report to be available to the public prior to and at the
Annual Town Meeting [ATM] (Ask Moderator to encourage input to TGSC)
C. Written report itself; draft by the second week in March
D. Possible Op-ed or perspective pieces in the local papers
E. Establish and announce ways for the public to contact the committee with
suggestions, ideas, and comments
Reinhard reiterated his TGSC Preliminary Report Draft ideas, previously distributed.
Sevrens noted that some issues will come out of the forum, but that the TGSC will still
not have any recommendations. Willauer and Reinhard noted that a summary of the
issues and questions raised would form the heart of the preliminary report. The discussion
so far has followed the charter, but we may want to organize and prioritize the topics
differently.
Other Business. Reinhard thanked Topham for taking on the duties of Treasurer.
Regarding guests to invite, he has spoken to Town Administrator Libby Gibson, and
February 27th is a possible date for her to speak to the committee. DeRensis, as Town
Counsel and a Sherburn Selectman, as well as being active in MMA, will have helpful
comments. After Town Meeting we will invite department heads, and consider hiring a
consultant. Further review of the County Charter and Charter Report will resume after
our next meeting. Sevrens again urged review of the By-laws as well.
Adjournment. At 5:35 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Lohmann