Adams Selectmen Re-examine Board's Policies, Procedures
The Selectmen reviewed the polices and procedures on Wednesday. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen aren't backing down from language in their policies and guidelines that limit the type of information they can request directly from department heads.
Two years ago, the board opted to strengthen the policies in their own handbook after they believed a member of the board had gone outside of her role in requesting documents from a department head.
They adopted language that guide selectmen to limit their questions to departments heads to remain general while any detailed responses or written documentation had to go through the town administrator first.
On Wednesday, the board, which includes three members who were not on the board at that time, revisited the selectmen's policies. Richard Blanchard, who was elected earlier this year, requested to revert that language saying there are occasions when a department head might not want to share his opinions with the town administrator.
"I don't think we should be limited," Blanchard said. "That means I can't talk to any of the department heads about anything."
Blanchard mainly asked the board to change the word "shall" back to "should," allowing the opportunity to request additional information. However, the rest of the board disagreed with the change and his plea went without support.
"I think it is a lot more than semantics. I think there is a significant difference," Selectman Michael Ouellette said. "Personally, I think it works fine this way and I wouldn't be in support of changing the shall to should."
Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said the language prevents each of the selectmen from taking time away from the employees as well as preventing the board from "micromanaging."
Ouellette added that the town administrator oversees employees and makes assignments. The way the town's government structure is established, the administrator should have oversight on what those employees are doing, he said.
"This is the form of government we have. We have a town administrator and this is how it is done," Chairman John Duval said.
Harrington also added that the language doesn't prevent the Selectmen from talking with the department heads but rather just requires that the town administrator knows about questions that require extensive documentation or explanations.
In another section, Blanchard called for language that would ensure that no vote is taken before the "citizens conference" section of the meeting. He said when the Selectmen adopted the language regarding a selectman's ability to gather information, the vote was moved ahead of that section — thus eliminating public's chance to weigh in on the matter.
Blanchard hoped to add language that would ensure citizens had a chance to speak on the issue. However, the board felt they do a good job letting residents speak during the meetings and again, Blanchard found no support.
"I think people have the right to speak on a subject," Blanchard said. "If people have the right to talk as you say, why move the vote ahead of citizen's conference."
Harrington, who had just completed two years as chairman, said in the last few years the board has always recognized members of the audience who have wanted to speak even if it was outside of the citizen's conference portion of the meeting.
Ouellette said with other boards the audience is typically restricted to only that time frame, but Adams has been accommodating. Thus, the board has no reason to adopt such strict language at this point, he said.
In another section, the two newest members, Blanchard and Joseph Nowak, were outvoted, 3-2, on a motion to rescind a term limit on chairmanship. The procedures included a stipulation that no chairman serve more than two consecutive, one-year terms.
Ouellette said the majority of the board should be able to decide who is best fit for the position. He said if a chairman is doing a good job, then he or she shouldn't be forced out of the position because of the amount of time.
Nowak said an annual election could create animosity on the board if a member is continually passed over for the chairmanship or a chairman is ousted. He said the board should work as a team and called for a rotation of the chairmanship.
Duval said he had never seen such a limit on other town boards he has served on and didn't see why a chairman couldn't retain the position beyond two years. Harrington added that sometimes a selectman doesn't want the position or can't fulfill the obligations required of representing the board at events and in meetings with town personnel.
Harrington and Oullette, both veterans of the board and who have served as chairman in the past, voted in favor while Nowak and Blanchard voted against. Duval broke the tie by siding with the veterans.
Also in their review, the Selectmen decided to revisit the penalties for alcohol license violations. The policies were updated a few years ago but serve as guidelines. Now, most of the selectmen are calling for minimum punishments for each occurrence.
"I would rather see a policy that we follow," Duval said.
Harrington, however, who headed the effort to update the policies said the guidelines are "respected" by other communities and they provide the board the chance to handle violations on a case-by-case basis.
Ultimately, that discussion was tabled.
Tags: policies, rules,
