1983-01-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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V � Q . SELECTMEN'S MEETING f January 3, 1983 L Y . A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the S elec t-- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 3, 1983 at 7:30 P.M Chairman.Busa, Mrs., Battin, Mr. Crain, Mr. Politi, Mr. Sacco; Mr. Hutchinson, Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Miss Adler, Assist- ant to the Town Manager; Miss Casey, Executive Clerk were present. The Board met with the Selectmen /Town Manager Act Review Committee and Chairman Hagedorn presented its draft report. He stated the Committee, from the knowledge and experience of its members concluded that the Act is, in general, well. The following three classes of revisions were recommended: "(1) houskeeping provisions that are worthy of attention only because other amendments are also being con- sidered; (2) items that we suggest be deleted from the Act because of their binding the town too rigidly to specific procedures that should be within the power of the town to change without recourse to the legislature; and (3) a few items intended to facilitate citizen participa- tion." Chairman Hagedorn stated that the Committee is aware of two major trends whose impact seems insufficient to warrant changes in the Act at this time. The'f irst trend is related to Proposition 2 1/2 -- tax reform, expenditure restriction, limitation on School Committee autonomy. The issue, in their opinion, that appears to be closest to the surface is school building maintenance., other aspects of the relationship of the Town Meeting, the Selectmen and Manager and the School Committee and School Superintendent may also come into focus. The second trend is towards increasing professionalism in Town Government. He stated that professionalism seems to be, necessarily, used in Town Government but the trend may in a few years force some fundamental rethinking. The thinking would be what the Town wants from appointed and elected volunteers and how to go about getting it. Tasks seem to have become more and more complicated and carried out more com- pletely by people at.a higher level of professionalism. There was some discussion relative to the issue of Town Meeting approval being required for administrative decisions. Mr. Busa thanked the Committee for the excellent job done on the report and stated that it proved to the residents of the Town that we have a good form of Selectmena /Town Manager Act and with periodic re- view minor changes might be made. The Board will decide which changes will be made and a warrant article presented to Town Meeting. Nlrs . Batt ire :suggested , and the Board agreed, that a public hear- ing should be held before presenting the article to Town Meeting. Selectmen/ Tn. Mgr. Act Review Com. Rept.