Williamstown Selectmen Consider Procedure for Resolutions
Deb Turnbull swears in Joe Finnegan Monday after the Board of Selectmen appointed him to the Community Preservation Committee.
Thomas, this past Monday, again emphasized that his decision to vote against a resolution calling for increased access to opioid treatment for North County residents was not about the substance of the resolution.
Rather, Thomas said he was uncomfortable putting the board’s name on anything not generated by the board.
"I'm kind of uptight about signing my name," Thomas said. "For me, when I sign my name, it's like giving my word. For example, when I joined the select board, I didn't know I'd be a water and sewer commissioner. At the first meeting, when I was handed this [water and sewer warrant] and asked to sign … I had butterflies about it because I didn't know where that number came from.
"Then I thought about it for a minute and realised that it came from [Water and Sewer Superintendent] Ed Rondeau and [Public Works Director] Tim Kaiser and [Town Manager] Jason [Hoch], and it’s their job to get that right. And I found a comfort level with it.
"When we get a resolution from a third party, I don't know if I can have that same comfort level."
Thomas suggested the board adopt a policy that formalizes what happened last month with the opioid resolution. Specifically, he would like to see an individual board member look at potential resolutions in advance and work on the language before bringing it to the full panel.
"If one of us agrees we should approve the resolution, that member of the board is responsible for reading and editing it and presenting it to the board,” Thomas said.
That presentation should include information about who is the target audience of the resolution as well as potential counter-arguments to make sure the board hears multiple points of view.
Although the board took no action on Thomas’ proposed procedure, each of the other four members weighed in with their initial thoughts.
Jane Patton and Hugh Daley each appeared to lean toward creating a process to give resolutions more deliberation.
"The resolutions don’t bother me so much … but when you stop to think about it, you are putting your name on something and signing something, and we should give it more consideration and time,” Patton said. "Who doesn’t want to fight opioid abuse, right? But is [the resolution] crafted the right way?”
Daley said that in light of last month’s discussion of a resolution sponsored by the North County Cares Coalition, he contacted the offices of the town’s legislative delegation to ask how much weight such resolutions carry. He was surprised by the reply.
"Each said: It alerts us to issues a specific area or town is worried about,” Daley said. "And they give it a weight that is more than what we might think it is. They see it as the Town of Williamstown … directing them in some fashion.”
Selectwoman Anne O'Connor said she was concerned that requiring petitioners to find a sponsor on the board might have a chilling effect.
"I'm interested by your protocol," she told Thomas. "I'm a little leary of over-formalizing the process. … Realistically, it's generally a good idea if someone is bringing a resolution that they have someone on the board who is sympathetic. But even if no one is sympathetic as it currently stands, they can at least get a hearing."
Chairman Andrew Hogeland, who himself in the past has declined to support resolutions that he did not think were specific enough to the town, reiterated that point on Monday. But he also indicated he did not think a written policy was necessary when the board already exercises editorial control over resolutions, as it showed last month.
"If we institute this, each of us will be approached by petitioners," Hogeland said. "It shifts the awkwardness to somewhere else other than here. I'd like to keep this very unbureaucratic.
"I’d rather have them present a resolution [to the full board] and say no to it. … But then we have got to have enough fortitude and backbone to say no.”
While the board left a decision on Thomas’ proposal for another day, it did take a couple of actions on Monday night.
It appointed Joe Finnegan to the Community Preservation Committee. He takes the "citizen" chair on the panel otherwise comprised of people already serving on other town committees. Previously, Thomas held that post but had to leave after being elected to the Board of Selectmen in the spring.
The board also set a public hearing for its Sept. 26 meeting for a request from Images Cinema for a license to serve alcohol.
Tags: citizens petition, resolution,
