Adams Considers Reducing Size of Finance Committee
ADAMS, Mass. — After a vote by the General Government Review Committee, residents may soon have the chance to vote to reduce the size of the Finance Committee from 15 to nine.
The committee voted Tuesday to suggest the Board of Selectmen add the change to a special town meeting warrant. Town Administrator Jay Green said there should be a special town meeting sometime in mid-November.
"We don't want to miss the opportunity to put something else in front of town meeting that can be cleaned up or modified," said Green. "... I think everyone's reached a consensus, from my sitting here observing, that everyone feels it's reasonable to reduce the number."
Additionally, the group recommended changing the date Finance Committee members are appointed to June 30 and removing a provision allowing the town moderator to remove members older than 70 years. The changes to the Finance Committee can come via bylaw, unlike many other topics the group has discussed related to the town charter.
"It's getting tough [to find enough members]," said committee member Timothy Burdick, who is also vice chair of the Finance Committee. "It's not like they're lining up to fill the 15 spots."
Bernard Lynch, a consultant from Community Paradigm Associates working with the committee on the charter review, said there are advantages and disadvantages to making the change now, as opposed to waiting.
"The advantage, perhaps, of doing it now is that it might address some current issues with the membership level," he said. "And it might be a reminder to the town meeting members that this committee is meeting and spending a lot of time going through and discussing these topics."
The group also discussed the mode by which the number is brought down to nine, deciding that appointments will be allowed to expire until the number is reduced to nine.
In other business, the committee discussed topics related to executive functions of town government. The group intends to discuss the issues in more detail at its next meeting.
"I thought today would be a good time to talk about what's the theoretical basis of the form of government that you have," Lynch said.
Several committee members suggested the group hear the opinions of the Board of Selectmen and the town administrator before having an in-depth discussion. The group formed a subcommittee to individually speak with each of them.
"Personally, I don't feel like I can make a judgment without more feedback on how people feel the system is working," said member Virginia Duval.
Tags: charter review, Finance Committee,
