HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20070205Town Government Study Committee
Minutes, February 5, 2007
Approved February 12
Land Bank Office
Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the fifty-sixth meeting of the Town Government Study
Committee to order at 1:05 pm. Present were members Reinhard, Gardner, Lohmann, Miller, Sevrens,
and Willauer, and guest Kopko.
Minutes. The minutes of February 1 were approved as submitted.
Review of Meetings with Town Administrator [TA] and Board of Selectmen [BOS]. Gardner felt
the meetings went well. He observed some BOS members had wanted to discuss the proposed articles
as well as the recommendations, sensing some opposition to some of them. Reinhard commented that
he's heard opposition particularly to the articles proposing making some boards [PB, HDC. SHAB]
appointed, rather than elected. Sevrens urged getting information on what other towns do, noting that
appointment is not a radical idea; Nantucket's HDC is the only one elected, all others are appointed.
Willauer reported that the MMA favored appointment of the boards, as providing more control. The
tendency for incumbents to win elections does not encourage new blood and the process discourages
good candidates from running. Reinhard said the "Meet the Articles" [MTA] forum and discussion on
the floor at Town Meeting [ATM] will be opportunities to bring these ideas forward. Lohmann
suggested also a guest editorial.
Reinhard enumerated the key issues that will come before ATM: changing the title to Town
Manager [TM], prohibiting BOS members from serving as town employees, and appointed vs elected
boards, the latter likely to be controversial. Willauer noted the difference between ATM attendees and
voters in a general election, it being important to address the likely ATM attendees initially. He felt
good media coverage would be good preparation for ATM. Sevrens and Gardner again urged that it
would be important to get out information on what other towns do regarding the appointment vs
election of boards.
Reinhard noted that he had also received questions about some proposals the TGSC had listed
in the "needs further study" category, one example being the Mayor/Council form of government. He
felt it would be a complicated, major change and would need more community education before
implementing. Willauer observed that Barnstable has a Council and Town Manager, which permits of
more centralized control, but it is a much larger area with several constituencies. A Mayoral system is
more centralized and allows for faster decision making. Sevrens observed some people are
disenchanted with the cumbersomeness of ATM and the BOS, and want more structure and control.
Another suggestion, a Representative Town Meeting, might have more traction, but the issue
is how to get from the current system, where ATM is the legislative body meeting once a year, to a
representative council. People might be reluctant to give up the ability to speak on open ATM.
Gardner observed that the County Commissioners can take some actions between town meetings;
Reinhard noted they have clear responsibilities with respect to real estate spelled out in the Charter.
Again, making a change would be complicated and need public study and education. Willauer
wondered if a council would elect boards, but Reinhard thought it would be by general ballot.
Sevrens observed it would be moot if they were appointed.
Sevrens observed that many TGSC recommendations were already under way. Willauer noted
that the TA and the BOS read the TGSC minutes and discuss and implement good ideas. Gardner said
many proposals had also been implemented as the original Charter process developed. TGSC
members generally felt it had been good to engage the TA and the BOS in the discussion. Willauer
found it helpful to have his fellow BOS members discuss the suggestions. Sevrens hoped for good
press coverage and Reinhard said he tried to maintain open communication with the media.
Future Role of the TGSC. Reinhard raised the question of the future role and term of the TGSC.
Originally we had thought our mission would be completed with the report to ATM in 2007, but we
had not anticipated that a ballot would be required a year later. Sevrens' term goes until 2008, but all
other members, with renewals, have terms expiring in 2007. Sevrens and Gardner felt it would be
necessary for the TGSC to stay active beyond June 2007, through the time of the ballot questions in
April 2008. While the TGSC was created by ATM, the BOS made the appointments, and could be
asked to extend the terms or reappoint the committee through June of 2008. If none of the proposals
pass ATM there would be no need to extend the TGSC, as their mission would be accomplished.
Sevrens suggested waiting until after ATM to ask the BOS for an extension. Reinhard felt it would be
advisable to have a plan in place, and an opportunity to consider a revised mission statement and a
role for the TGSC to follow/oversee the implementation of their recommendations, the transition of
any changes. Members felt the most important focus was now to compile the Final Report and to
explain to the public the proposed articles and advisory recommendations. If some articles pass ATM,
extending the TGSC through the 2008 balloting in order to provide information for the election would
be desirable. Willauer felt the TGSC had been a useful forum and good sounding board, but several
members wondered whether it should continue beyond 2008. Lohmann and Miller observed that the
BOS could appoint an advisory board whenever they want to, and if the five-year review proposal
passes, a review committee would be appointed in 2010. Miller suggested having at least some
members carry over then for continuity.
Plan for the Forum with the Nantucket Civic League [NCL]. Reinhard noted three major events
coming up: the February 19 forum with the Civic League, the March 14 Final Report, and a March
[9?] date for "Meet the Articles." He asked the committee whether his possible candidacy for the
BOS would compromise the TGSC's work, but the members felt it would not affect the work, as the
election comes after these events and the major work is done. Sevrens again urged gathering
information and statistics on what other towns do to make the case for our proposals. She noted for
instance, that in some towns the BOS serves also as the Planning Board. Lohmann suggested
consultant Groux might be able to gather some comparative information; Sevrens suggested also the
MMA, and Reinhard cited Town Clerk Flanagan Stover as a source.
The NCL Forum is to be in the Great Hall of the Athenaeum, for about an hour and a half.
Reinhard asked what should be covered. Miller noted that at the later MTA forum there would be
opportunity for greater focus on the proposed articles; most attention should be on the advisory
recommendations. Handing out the list of recommendations, [grouped by category], giving a brief
synopsis and then seeking questions and responses from the audience would be a better way to
proceed that a power point presentation. Advance distribution of the recommendations [via e-mail?
Web site?] would be desirable. A list of the articles will also be available, but the emphasis will be on
the recommendations. The TGSC committee members will all be on the panel; Reinhard will be the
spokesperson, but anyone may chime it. Willauer noted he likes questions being submitted in written
form; Sevrens felt having individuals asking direct questions was more informal and spontaneous.
TGSC's Final Report. Reinhard distributed a draft "Final Report Considerations," dealing with the
"Needs Further Study" items, and a sample explanatory paragraph. He envisions a three part Final
Report, dealing with the Warrant Articles, the Advisory Recommendations, and the "Further Study"
topics. The order of the sections still to be determined. The basic structure would be simply to state
the issue, give some explanatory arguments pro or con, and indicate our finding or recommendation.
Willauer suggested a "story board" technique, with ideas listed in bullet points and TGSC members
jotting their ideas under the topics. Reinhard should keep the master copy, send drafts and enter
feedback from the members. Gardner felt it best for Reinhard to draft the text for uniformity, and
have the TGSC members offer their editing suggestions and comments. Sevrens urged brief
paragraphs. Lohmann suggest a brief executive summary with expanded details in the report.
Reinhard noted that the structure would be like the Preliminary Report, and that he wanted TGSC
review of the draft.
Future Meetings. It was decided to have a meeting on Monday, February 12 at 1:00 pm in the Land
Bank Office, to focus only on preparation for the February 19 forum.
Adjournment. At 2:55 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Lohmann