2004-12-02-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 2, 2004 To: Appropriation Committee (AC) From: Deborah Brown, Acting Secretary Subject: Minutes of AC meeting on Thursday, December 2, 2004 Attendees: A. Levine (Chair), P. Hamburger, R. Pawliczek, D. Brown (Vice Chair), R. Eurich, J. Bartenstein, D. Kanter, E. Michelson, S. English, M. Young, R. Pagett & W. Kennedy (Board of Selectmen [BoS]), Marge Battin (Town Moderator). Material Distributed: #1. Agenda #2. Ethics commission handout #3. P. Hamburger’s proposal (circulated by email) #4. D. Brown’s memo (circulated by email) #5. A. Levine’s memo (circulated by email) #6. W. Kennedy’s email (memo from Linda Vine re assistant town manager duties) The meeting was called to order at 7:40 by Al Levine in Town Office Building Room PM 111. 1. Campaign participation: Reviewed last year’s vote on campaign participation. Donation prohibition discussed. Will revisit later in evening. 2. M. Battin (Town Moderator) visit: New staff members, new people on committees, so a time to clarify roles and relationships. a. ROLES: Since she appoints AC members, it falls to her to visit us to talk about this. We are one of the 2 most important boards in town (AC and CEC). In many towns, we are the budget submitters and make all the financial motions. Our role is very important. Referred to Lexington code regarding AC: a) We are responsible for oversight of all issues regarding management of the town, not just financial affairs; and b) We have right of access to any record of the town and access to any employee. Article II, Section 29-7 and 29-9, specifically. In addition, she elaborated that we are “the voters’ eyes and ears on the inside of the process if we don’t like what we see.” b. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BOARDS, COMMITTEES: We need to remain open minded, fair, impartial; therefore we can’t serve on other committees. Intent of this prohibition is to prevent conflict of interest or influence when a proposal comes to us for consideration and recommendation – AC members shouldn’t be in a position of lobbying fellow committee members for a “pet” project. Battin explained that this had been a problem in the past and that’s why the committees were set up the way they were. (Article II, section 29-7). c. LIAISON ROLE: Regarding acting as liaisons to other committees, Battin thinks we should be consistent with the letter and intent of the bylaw. When we Page 1 of 8