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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20060516Town Government Study Committee Minutes, May 16, 2006 Land Bank Office Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the twenty-second meeting of the Town Government Study Committee to order at 4:00 pm. Present were members Reinhard, Gardner, Lohmann, Miller, Sevrens, Topham, and Willauer, and guests Glowacki and, later, Kopko. Minutes. The minutes of May 8 were approved as submitted. Discussion of Meeting with the Consultants. Reinhard noted that our consultants had charged us to tell them what we wanted, and they would advise us on how to accomplish it. Lohmann observed that, while the committee had raised certain issues, the consultants had brought up a new proposal, to combine the town and county functions of government. Gardner raised the question of what such a change would mean for the status of the Plan Commission [NP&EDC], which is a County/State, not a town entity; would it be subsumed into a regional entity? Other questions were about county employees and salaries, appointments, the power to take roads, the position of County Sheriff, the effect on our other goals. The change might strengthen local government, but what benefits of a county government would be lost? Nantucket is one of 17 counties, but over 300 towns. Lohmann reported a comment from a member of the public that the opposite action, separating the membership of the Board of Selectmen and the County Commissioners might produce creative synergy. These questions should be referred to the consultants. Turning to topics already considered by the committee, Miller noted that there seemed to be consensus on changing the title from Town Administrator to Town Manager [TM], as carrying more weight and authority. Sevrens moved and Gardner seconded a motion to propose naming the position "Town Manager"; motion was approved unanimously. The proposal will be referred to the consultants to advise how to accomplish this, presumably by an amendment to the Charter. The questions of additional powers or requirements for the position are still to be determined. Glowacki commented that the title was not the issue; in the effort to streamline local government it would be necessary to examine the trade-off between participation and efficiency in considering the functions of traditional institutions like the BOS and Annual Town Meeting [ATM]. Committees tend to water down authority; he cited the Capital Program Committee. The next topic was that of Town employees serving in elected positions. A motion to propose prohibiting town employees from serving in elected positions was tabled pending further information and discussion. It was recognized as a controversial issue. Discussion ranged over questions such as: What to other towns and municipalities do? Should a prohibition apply to employees on all regulatory boards, or be limited to the BOS? Should it apply only when there is a direct conflict in lines of authority? Would the town be sacrificing the knowledge and talents of local people, or does the town's population growth now offer more qualified expertise that might better be tapped if such a prohibition were in place? Would opposition to this proposal risk adoption of other desirable proposals of the committee? [Mr. Kopko having arrived at the meeting, Mr. Willauer convened an official BOS meeting, already posted, so a BOS quorum present could join the discussion without violating the Open Meeting Law]. Willauer was concerned with "double dipping." Kopko felt any prohibition should apply only to the BOS, as the one where an employee might be his own boss; other elected boards -- Planning, [PB] Historic District Commission [HDC] -- would respond to the electorate. Glowacki observed that a majority of the BOS, not one member, would be necessary to oversee an employee; he felt the issue would soon be moot, when the census population puts Nantucket in a category regulated by the state. Kopko felt the committee might decide without waiting for a census. The committee felt that while it was premature to take a stand on the idea at this point, that it is a legitimate issue that needs to be raised and discussed. Reinhard was asked to summarize and communicate feedback on all issues he had received from the public. The consultants will be asked to explore the possibilities, the pros and cons of such a measure. A related topic was raised: whether to change some currently elected boards and positions [HDC, PB, Town Clerk] to appointed positions. This, too, will be referred to the consultants for the implications, pro and con. Gardner noted he had heard some support for changing from an open Annual Town Meeting [ATM] to a representative Town Meeting [RTM]. The question then arises, how to allocate representation, how would smaller communities on the island be heard? Would the population lose power? Reinhard noted that one of the TGSC's missions is to educate the public on how systems of government work. It is important to be able to explain the rationale for any recommendations we make. Glowacki suggested, in the interest of streamlining government, looking into the pros and cons of an elected Town Council, which would meet more often during the year than ATM. Gardner and Sevrens commented that several towns had tried this system, then abandoned it, returning to ATM. As a measure to streamline ATM, Sevrens wanted to limit the number of citizen articles, requiring more signatures to get on the warrant. The consultants should be asked how other towns limit the number of articles. Committee Appointment Applications. Applications for reappointment to the TGSC are due in the Town Administrator's office by tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17th. Members whose terms expire are Gardner, Lohmann, Topham, Miller and Willauer. Willauer has been reappointed by the BOS; The others have submitted applications and, where applicable, received endorsements from their respective organizations. Civic League Forum. Reinhard reported on his participation in a Civic League Forum on governance issues the previous day. Panelists were TA Gibson, Finance Committee members Atherton and Miller, Reinhard and Planning Director Vorce. Attendance Policy. In the absence of a town policy on attendance, Reinhard distributed a statement on committee attendance that the committee endorsed. He will submit it in addition to the attendance record requested by the TA's office. Future Plans. Meetings scheduled for May 22, June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24. Adjournment Respectfully submitted, Pamela Lohmann