Adams Government Review Committee Discusses Boards, Committees
ADAMS, Mass. — As part of its ongoing charter review, the General Government Review Committee looked at town boards and committees this week, trying to determine their ideal functions and purpose.
Consultant Bernard Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates categorized the groups, separating appointed and elected positions.
"It doesn't seem like you have that many appointed and, actually, I think there's a couple that are referenced in your bylaws that might be missing here," Lynch said at the committee's meeting on Tuesday.
Committee member George Haddad said it might be worth looking into eliminating or changing the appointment method of some boards struggling with membership.
"Some of these, we're never getting anyone to run for the positions and, for me, that is showing a problem," he said. "And maybe we should be looking at those that are having a problem."
One topic discussed was committees such as the Parks Commission and the Cemetery Commission that serve primarily as advisory boards.
"We generally try to leave decisions about parks and recreation activities to that board, so they have something to do. But at the end of the day, it would be the Selectmen and I that make final decisions," said Town Administrator Jay Green.
The group discussed the pros and cons of if some board responsibilities were handled by town staff. Committee member Virginia Duval said it's important to keep the town staff's workload in mind when discussing eliminating or changing the functions of town boards.
"Given the feeling sometimes I have with people in this Town Hall are somewhat stressed at points, and sometimes it seems a difficulty to get personnel, there would be a plan afterward for supplementing the Town Hall staffing to take on these responsibilities," she said.
Lynch also provided a sample charter from the town of Auburn for the committee to review and consider as part of its own charter review. Several committee members noted the charter's good organization, which Lynch said is something Adams is already doing well with its bylaws.
"Your bylaws are structured in a way that is logical. You'd be amazed at how many communities haven't yet done [that]," he said.
In other business, Lynch also updated the board on a recent state Selectmen's Association webinar in which town charter review was a major topic. He said the discussions at the webinar give insight into some of the work the committee is undertaking.
"It is something I think there's interest, or at least my understanding is in Adams there's interest in looking at that as, 'Is that a possibility? Is that the desired direction for the town of Adams,'" he said.
Lynch explained to the committee the warrant article to change the size of the Finance Committee will be saved for the annual town meeting next year rather than the Nov. 15 special town meeting.
"We had discussions regarding putting something to submit to the special town meeting. And I think the decision was to hold on that until the spring and take it up at that time," he said.
Tags: charter review,
