HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-07-2020-min
2020 Vision Implementation Committee
April 7, 2005 – Meeting Minutes
7:45 a.m. Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members Present
: Peter Enrich, Ann Redmon, Fernando Quezada, Richard Pagett, Marian Cohen,
Stacey Hamilton
Others:
Candy McLaughlin, Elaine Sterzin
Minutes:
The minutes from the March 10, 2005, Implementation Committee meeting were approved.
Meetings with New Selectmen:
Peter reported that he and Fernando had a positive meeting with new
Selectman Norman Cohen. Norman is supportive of moving forward with the process. He had a number
of good ideas for people to invite to join the Committee including Alison Coolidge, Omar Khudari, Stana
Gnatovich, Iang Jeon, Ana Flaster, Mollie Garberg, Alan Fields, Bob Reith, Ron Pawliczek; also, Marian
suggested Steve Turner’s name. Recognizing the key role a new Town Manager will play, Norman asked
for suggested questions to ask the final candidates. Fernando will arrange a similar meeting with new
Selectman Hank Manz.
Presentations to Elected Officials:
Candy distributed the written handouts that were given to Town
Meeting members. At last night’s session of Town Meeting, Marian Cohen and Susan Elberger presented
the recommendations from the Constructive Community Discourse report, and Bob Reith and Mollie
Garberg presented the recommendations from the Budget Process and Communication report.
Unfortunately the reports were limited to five minutes each and there was no opportunity for follow-up
questions or discussion, but the ideas did get presented. Fernando will contact the new TMMA Chair
Gloria Bloom and arrange to attend the next meeting of the TMMA Executive Committee to close the
loop with them. Candy asked for volunteers to make the two remaining short overview presentations to
elected boards; Stacey will present to the Planning Board on April 25 or 27, and Ann will present to the
School Committee at a date to be determined.
Discussion and Followup to Budget Task Force:
The Committee identified the Budget Collaboration
Group, involving the Selectmen, School Committee, and two Finance Committees, as the most
appropriate setting for a substantive discussion of the Budget Task Force recommendations. The
Planning Board will also be invited. Peter commented that representatives from most of these committees
participated on the Budget Task Force. Task Force members are eager to follow through and would
appreciate the opportunity to briefly present their recommendations and then engage the Collaboration
Group members in discussion of how to move forward. Candy will ask Acting Town Manager Linda
Vine if she would feel comfortable convening a meeting of the smaller Budget Process Group to decide
how to proceed. The desired time frame is early-mid May in order to affect next year’s budget process.
Although the new Town Manager, Finance Director, School Superintendent, and School Manager of
Business and Finance are critical players in developing the budget, it was felt that discussions could begin
before they are all on board.
Discussion and Follow-up to Community Discourse Task Force:
Since this Task Force’s
recommendations relate to the whole community, other constituencies beside the elected boards should be
involved in the discussions. Suggested participants included committee chairs, the Moderator, No Place
for Hate, the clergy, the Newcomers Club, realtors, and the press. Realistically the community discussion
probably cannot be organized this spring. There could be benefit to scheduling it in September as a kick-
off to moving forward with implementation (and at that point, the new Town Manager and Superintendent
could be involved). Richard asked if Selectmen or other approval is required, or whether implementation
of the recommendations could begin before the proposed meeting. Discussion ensued as to what would
be needed to conduct the training for committee chairs, as an example – curriculum, recruitment of a
trainer (volunteer or paid?), scheduling, motivation/requirement for the chairs to attend – and while it
could start now, some person or group would need to take it on.
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Other publicity:
Marian will prepare a Guest Commentary on the Community Discourse
recommendations for next week’s Minuteman, and Peter will have one for the Budget Task Force the
following week. Once Town Meeting is over, Candy will send the handout to the 2020 Vision
constituency mailing list, electronically where possible. She will also make it available at the Library, in
the Town Hall literature rack, and on the Town’s website.
Future Meetings:
Thursday, May 5
Friday, June 10
Meeting adjourned
at 8:45 am
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