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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20060410Town Government Study Committee Draft Minutes, April 10, 2006 Land Bank Office Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the eighteenth meeting of the Town Government Study Committee to order at 4:00 pm. Present were members Reinhard, Gardner, Lohmann, Sevrens, Topham, and Willauer. Minutes. The minutes of March 27 were approved as corrected. Meeting Schedule. The next meeting is scheduled for April 24, at which Town Administrator Gibson will attend. Gardner suggested the committee meet more frequently over the summer in order to accomplish our work. It was agreed to meet weekly, alternating meeting with guests and working meetings. The consultant, Mr. Groux, would like to meet with the committee on May 8. We scheduled an additional meeting on Tuesday, May 2, at 4:00 pm to prepare for the meeting with Groux. Expenses. Topham supplied the "Request for Quote" form for payment for Groux. Reinhard also got a quote from Poet's Corner to print 500 copies of the Preliminary Report for Town Meeting; they will bill the Town Administration office. Publicity. Reinhard noted that Moderator Alger had called attention to the Preliminary Report at Town Meeting. He reported that Chris Perry will also discuss the TGSC work in his forthcoming column in the Independent. Reinhard has begun a draft for an Op. Ed. piece, and asked what should be included. Lohmann suggested that after our meeting with Groux we may have some specific proposals to put forward. Reinhard has had only general feedback so far. Discussion of Recommendations regarding Town Administration. Reinhard distributed some information from the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association [MMMA] on alternative forms of local government. The general consensus was that a Town Manager [TM] position is considered stronger that a Town Administrator. Sevrens said a town our size should have a Town Manager; we should consider charter changes to include a job description for a manager, and what additional appointment powers should be included. These are questions for Mr. Groux. Gardner suggested that appointments to advisory committees be appointed by the Town Manager, while the regulatory committees continue to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen [BOS]. Lohmann suggested going through Town of Nantucket Organizational Chart in the Annual Report to consider the appointments to various Boards and Commissions. A preliminary list of suggestions is as follows: Appointments to be made by the TM [Currently BOS appointments] Abatement Advisory Board Beach Management Advisory Comm. Capital Programs Comm. CATV Council on Aging Cultural Council Disability Council Energy Comm. Human Services Council Park & Recreation Comm. Scholarship Committee Traffic Safety Advisory Comm. Tree Advisory Committee Visitor's Services Advisory Committee Appointments to be made by the BOS Airport Comm. Conservation Comm. CPC Finance Comm. Human Services Contract Review Comm. Non-Voting Taxpayers Advisory Comm. SSA Board Member TGSC ZBA It was noted that some committee appointments are prescribed by law; some members are ex-officio, on committees by virtue of their position, or representing specific constituencies. Gardner noted that BOS appointments are by open application, in public meetings. BOS can veto TM appointments. There should be consideration of how to handle members who don't attend their board or commission. There were questions about the function or status of some boards or positions: Our Island Home, Personnel, Local Emergency Planning, Historical Com., Utility User Fee Appeals Bd., Vets Agent. These can be referred to the Town Administrator when she comes. Appointments of various officials can be considered later. Although there was consensus that the position of TM should be strengthened, it was noted that with more autonomy and responsibility, the position would need added provision for assistance. Next Meeting. Committee members should compile and circulate their suggestions on both Town Administration and the Board of Selectmen for the next meeting. Also, compile a list of questions for the Town Administrator to be sent to her in advance. Adjournment. At 5:45 pm Respectfully submitted, Pamela Lohmann