HomeMy WebLinkAboutTGSCminutes20070212Town Government Study Committee
Minutes, February 12, 2007
Approved February 26
Land Bank Office
Call to Order. Chairman Reinhard called the fifty-seventh meeting of the Town Government Study
Committee to order at 1:00 pm. Present were members Reinhard, Lohmann, Sevrens, Topham, and
Willauer. Miller arrived later.
Minutes. The minutes of February 5 were approved as submitted. The minutes of February 1 were
revised according to corrections/suggestions from Barnes and Gibson and re-approved as revised.
Plan for February 19 Forum with the Nantucket Civic League [NCL]. Reinhard distributed an
"Outline of Issues and Recommendations" listing (1) general recommendations for further study, (2)
the proposed Warrant Articles, and (3) the Advisory Recommendations. Willauer distributed paper
copies of power point slides on the same material, including some background information on the
TGSC. The committee discussed the order of the topics, and agreed the Articles would be of most
immediate interest to the public and should be addressed first, followed by the recommendations. The
"further study" issues to be taken up at the end, to assure enough time for full discussion of the first
two sections. Although there may be another opportunity to address the Articles at the later "Meet the
Articles" forum, that will be shared with many other articles, and this will be an extended opportunity
for the TGSC to let the public know what we've been doing and to elicit feedback.
Reinhard expects, after an introduction from the Civic League moderator, to give a brief
summary of the categories and then go through them section by section: Articles; Advisory
Recommendations on Boards and Commissions, Administration, Professional Development, and
Communications. Willauer urged that the public be encouraged first to ask questions about whatever
topics most interested them. Reinhard and committee members could then respond. A brief review of
any topics not already addressed could wrap up that section before moving on to the next section.
Committee members felt the lists of topics should be available to the NCL and the public as
far in advance as possible. The paper copies of the power point slides are a good format to present
them. This can also be put on both the NCL and the TGSC web site, and paper copies can be handed
out at the forum. Sevrens volunteered to greet attendees and hand them copies.
There was discussion about whether questions would be submitted in writing, or by people
speaking at a stationary microphone or using a "travelling" mike. This will depend on the available
system at the Athenaeum, the TV station, and the NCL.
There will be TV coverage, which hopefully will be able to show the power point slides for
the TV audience, although the slides will not be read through at the meeting, only used as
background; discussion will move directly to the topics. The topics on the power point slides will be
somewhat condensed and may require verbal elaboration at the meeting. There were various
suggestions on tightening up the wording of the topics. References to the implementing body need
not be included. Willauer will try to group slides on one section together on one page, and see to
printing a number of copies for distribution. If they are ready in time, Miller can take some to the
School Committee meeting February 15.
Regarding the issue of appointed vs. elected boards, Reinhard will note that the aim is to
allow for seeking candidates with appropriate expertise who might not feel comfortable with the
electoral process; it would also be a mechanism for assuring greater consistency and accountability to
the administration. Sevrens also noted that all other towns have appointed HDCs, and the MMA
generally favors appointed boards.
Regarding the issue of BOS members not also serving as town employees, it is important to
clarify that any town employee can still run for Selectman, though if elected they would have to give
up the town job. Sevrens also felt it important to note that many of the Advisory Recommendations
are already underway, being implemented by the administration, and our listing them is to recognize
and approve them.
It will be important to stick to the agenda and keep track of time. A suggestion was to spend
40% of the time on the Articles, 40% on the Advisory Recommendations and 20% on further study or
other topics. If the discussion runs long, people can be urged to visit and submit comments at the web
site.
Future Meetings. Reinhard made note of upcoming meetings:
February 19 Forum with the NCL
February 22 FinCom takes up TGSC articles [Later moved up to Feb 15]
March 9 Meet the Articles with NCL
March 14 TGSC presentation to BOS
April 9 Annual Town Meeting
Adjournment. At 2:35 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Lohmann