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