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61-425 <br />Selectmen's Meeting - October 18, 1999 <br />Budget, Y2K, tax relief options expanded with the new circuit breaker law, the Library fund <br />raising efforts, and the status of the Hanscom litigation. Mr. Enrich and Mrs. Eddison will be the <br />Board's editors of the Newsletter. <br />Minutes <br />Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the meetings of <br />September 13 and September 27, 1999. <br />Board Members Function as a Board <br />Mr. Enrich reviewed two recent articles in the Lexington Minuteman and the way Board <br />Members function as a Board. It is very important on the way individual members approach the <br />media. Several statements made by one member of the Board appeared to represent statements <br />of the entire board. We need to be very careful to avoid that impression. It affects internal <br />relations within the Board when statements really do misrepresent the Board's positions. The <br />first article concerned appointments to committees and gave the impression the Board gives <br />preference to newcomers rather than people who have been serving and who have indicated they <br />wish to be reappointed. It gives the appearance that a person is being reappointed because there <br />wasn't somebody new to appoint. <br />The second statement with regard to the improvements being made on the Green that the Town <br />staff had directly disregarded orders received from the Board. The statement seriously <br />misrepresented the facts and affects the working relationship between the Board and the <br />Manager. We do not issue orders, we develop and adopt policies which we expect to be carried <br />out. The framing of that statement really was problematic both with Board relations and our role <br />between ourselves and the Town staff. It is important to make it very clear when we are giving <br />our particular views and when we are reporting on a direct action taken by the Board in an <br />appropriate and formal meeting. <br />Mrs. Eddison indicated she has always felt that a Board member does not speak for the Board <br />unless the Board has asked a member to speak for them. <br />Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:35 p.m. <br />A true record, Attest: <br /> Phyllis A. Smith <br /> Executive Clerk <br /> <br />