HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppointment Criteria Committee - Report.pdf . s•
) To The Board of Selectmen: f
Thee Appointment Criteria. Committee herewith submits its report, /pv
which is as follows:
Introduction
In September, 1976, the board of selectmen named an Appointment Criteria
Committee (ACC) consisting of Guy Doran, John Harvell, Judy Marshall,
Frank Totman, Margot Tutun, Weiant Wathen-Dunn and Dan Fenn (chair) .
The board charged the committee with the responsibility of recommending
to them a set of criteria for the selection of members of selectmen-appointed
committees and suggested that subsequently criteria should be established for
selectmen-appointed subcommittees ander 446 ' tle4 tz and
those manager-appointed committees which require concurrence by the selectmen.
The committe held its organizational meeting on October 7, 1976, and
subsequent meetings on October 18, November 4, November 23, December 13,
December 27, January 19, and February 6.
It dropped consideration of the Standing Plumbing and Building By-Law
Committee because the Commonwealth has essentially taken over its functions.
Consequently it devoted its attention to the board of appeals, the town
celebrations committee, the historic districts commission and the trustees
of public funds (Bridge Charitable Fund, Gammell Legacy Income Trustee and
Trustees of Public Trusts) .
Virtually all current members of these groups were interviewed; a
representative selection of citizens was invited to meet with the ACC to
discuss their thoughts on criteria; and a public hearing was held to provide
citizens an opportunity to express their views.
The ACC included the results of these various conversations in developing
its list: of draft criteria. After publication of the draft in the Minuteman
with an invitation to the community to comment, the ACC reviewed. thesuggestions
it received, and submits a final report to the Board of Selectmen.
Nature of the Criteria .
The ACC discovered very early in the process that it would be advisable
to recommend two categories of criteria for each group, one to be used in the
selection of individuals and the second to be employed in considering the
board or committee as a whole.
Secondly, it decided to submit a set of criteria which should be applied
to all appointments to any of the committees it was considering.
Third, it emphasized that it drew up its recommendations without reference
to any particular individuals but rather with an eye to general public policy.
Finally, the Committee would point out that, in the final analysis, tis
up to the Selectmen to determine how these criteria are to be applied in
specific individual cases.
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Recommendations
General Criteria
People invited to serve the town by becoming members of its important
non-elected committees, boards and commissions should:
Be people of competence, good will and sound, objective judgment.
Be drawn from new and long-time residents alike.
Be truly interested in the welfare of Lexington and all its
residents.
Be sensitive to the long-term as well as the immediate impact
of their decisions and recommendations.
Be willing and able to devote the time and energy necessary to
fulfill their responsibilities.
Furthermore, the ACC particularly urges that special attention be given
to townspeople of talent and dedication who are not readily visible as part
of the "establishment," however defined; that the board make a special effort
to seek out and recruit interested individuals and that it consider the crea-
tion of formal mechanisms to carry out such recruitment.
Specific Criteria
Board of Appeals
Individual
1. Shall have had significant experience and activity in town affairs
related to matters within the purview of the board of appeals as evidenced,
for example, by:
Membership on major town boards such as selectmen, planning
board, conservation commission.
Town meeting membership.
Significant involvement in land-use related community activities,
including especially zoning matters.
2. Shall have lived in Lexington for at least eight years, The ACC
(Margot Tutun voting "No"), departed to some degree from its general policy
in suggesting this residency requirement for the board of appeals because it
felt that the power and impact of this particular board is so far-reaching
that special emphasis should be placed on experience and proven qualities of
fairness and balanced judgment.
3. Shall have been an associate member for at least two years.
4. Shall have no major land-holding interests in Lexington.
5. If a full member, shall not hold membership on any other major
boards, i.e. , planning board, board of selectmen, school committee, historic
districts commission, appropriation committee.
6. If a full member who has served consecutively for the equivalent of
two full terms (10 years) , or more, shall not be reappointed until after a
lapse of at least one year.
Collective
1. It is highly desjrable that the Board of Appeals should include
people with various specialties, including especially:
Engineering background.
Legal training and experience.
Environmental and/or conservationist experience.
Architectural and/or design training.
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Town Celebrations Committee
Individual
1. Shall have specifically demonstrated the capacity to work well with
others.
2. Shall have specifically demonstrated organizational ability.
3. If he or she has served consecutively for the equivalent of three
terms (nine years) , or more, shall not be reappointed until after a lapse of
at least one year.
Collective
1. It is highly desirable that the town celebrations committee include
people who:
Have specific knowledge of Lexington's history and historic
celebrations.
Are younger citizens.
Represent Lexington's newer residents.
Have good working relations with the Minute Men and experience in
planning joint observances with them.
Historic Districts Commission
Individual
1. Shall have demonstrated a dedication to historical heritage, to
historical preservation, to the special townscape of Lexington and to the
concept of architectural compatibility.
2. If a full member who has served consecutively for the equivalent
of two full terms (10 years) or more, shall not be reappointed until after
a lapse of at least one year.
Collective
1. It is highly desirable that the historic districts commission
include people who:
Have legal training and experience.
Have historical training or experience.
Have training in architecture, architectural history and aesthetics.
Have training and/or experience in graphic design.
Is a local businessman.
Trustees of public funds
(Bridge Charitable Fund, Gammell Legacy Income Trustee, Trustees of
Public Trusts)
Individual
1. Shall have demonstrated a working knowledge and understanding of
the financial markets, and meet the standards of "prudent man" provisions.
2. If he or she has served-consecutively for the equivalent of two
terms (twelve years) or more, shall not be reappointed until after a lapse
of at least one year.
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Collective
1. It is highly desirable that the trustees of public funds shall
include people who:
Have legal training and experience.
Have investment experience.
Have an interest in and experience with the use and dispersal
of funds.
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