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Home My WebLink About1966-07-11-STG-min.pdf Structure of Government Committee Meeting -------- - July 11, 1966 Presents M. Battin, A. Bryson, H. Hagedorn, Absent s S. Russian, L. Scharfman Minutes of the meeting of June 22 ware accepted, after Hagedorn ---'----- remarked that the paragraph reporting discussion of "criteria" (page 2, pars 2) had been particularly illuminating for him to read._ It seemed to reveal adifference in attitude among, committee members, which had been perhaps already in part overcome, and he hoped would be completely overcome. While the TWA Committee had indeed accorded priority to "citizen ________ participation," it had always tried hard to avoid attributing to that-criterion -any-quality of exclusiveness, or being the-ultimate-- ---- goal. In fact, if you pushed any of the stated criteria to its Logical- extreme, -it would contradict the others: each is a lititing-___-_____ factor on the application of the others. M. Battin su, marized a statewide meeting on Home Rule, -which she -- and L. $heefman had attended If the Home Rule Amendment passes, — the special acts in effect will be our first charter We could amend it piecemeal by 2/3 vote of the Town Meeting on any particular ._____.—__--.__--change, followed by ratification by the voters of the town. If we were to prefer a complete revision, 15% of the voters would first have to petition for the election of charter commissioners in a regular town election. Discussion of the advisability of deciding whether the S of 0 Committee should work toward a charter commission election next March brought out the following we --- -------- n,we will don't have a clear idea of how many changesAand of what kind -- advocate --- ---. they will be The Charter Procedures Committee has gone further than the other groups working on Home Rule, but even they have not settled all the questi ons they have before them. Accordingly, Hagedorn moved that the Committee again examine the question of whether to push toward a charter commission next year by September 15,(after all Committee members have returned from vacation, and early enough to allow several weeks of work __. ____ ___ before the General Election, if the decision were affirmative.) Second ed by Bryson. Accepted. M. Battin continued by pointing out the advantage we enjoy in ---- - having already collected all of the applicable special acts, - which people on the state level believe essential to charter revision. Their advice on drafting a charter: acquire an expert. _____ Committee meibers tried to imagine the qualifications of a useful expert, and reached the tentative conclusion that there won't be any until a few charters have actually been written and tested in Maasachusetts.(tntnt.a.wnd ;t 'rate neehn - 7hcs,/feed wethcn$,e/d ,AWA neecs4r,lr/ lr,ioirrj's .pias/lsts 'I/I m�Inic/tcl Y F'b ycv•ttPrr<anvic+. I•tuat e •� ti muer;rf ec ,Sui/ nt —p,ttcssc,- et p pheal S'/ ,-3< • t••te ec ate critics1 r ole,h ' y A. Bryson agreed to prepare an announ oment cis the Juy 2 meeting, _ ___ scheduled for Seel ttma lbyConference Room, Cary Hall, to be _ __ _—_ _. published in the Minuteman. _ Written commentaries from town officials expected: from Recreation Committee time for July 25 meed Fa Capital Expenditures r tiwn 9nlwgt N 1 n1r, i.i �7n , ,y t1 N'1 t it •"/ a 1 } •� Y/� I -2- S of G--July 11 Minuted The remainder of the meeting was based upon such written comments as have been already received, and upon the precis -----. of the June 1 public meeting. ----- --- Bryson tended to agree with Al Cray that the Chief Adm.- Officer - proposed in the TMMA Report has responsibility but no authority. It was explained that he would base his ability to act on being able to set etandards-=e g., personnel standards--and being the only person really involved in all administrative - -- "__-_- -- actions. The C.A.O. as proposed was intentionally not a Town - - -- -- - Manager. The Selectmen furnished managements the 0.A.O. was supposed to provide administration and support. -- -- Mrs. Litchfield has reminded M. Battin of the importance of_ Ogli giki1 getting those who oppose structural changes to express themselves early In the 1955 Town Manager debate, it turned out that the Selectmen were opposed to a Town Manager, but they - hadn't said anything about it until after the Committee had ----------practically-reached the town meeting floor — __ Bryson queried why anyone would appose appointment of such technical functionaries as town clerk and tan collector Bryson advocated a shorterterm (perhaps 3 years) for Planning --- Board members, and the hiring of more paid staff members He would prefer that PB-not be appointed by Selectmen, If Slanning Board should be integrated more into administration, he suggests _ accomplishing this by giving the CAC and the Moderator a hand -_ in appointing the Planning Director. Bryson explained the Winnetka "Caucus Committee," which works - -- through the year recruiting and appointing a slate of nominees -- for the various boards and committees. Applied to Lexington, it was suggested that a similar "Nominating Committee," chosen part by the TMS in precinct meetings, and in part by the Moderattr, could serve as the main appointing agency (If ratification were required, the Town Meeting could ratify these appointments, and entertain additional nominees from the floor ) - Such a plan would at once shorten the ballot and meet the objections of those who feel that the Selectmen are not in a good position __ _ -- to wisely appoint the officials and boards named in the TMMA report. M Battin will ask S. Russian to inquire into the legality of a "Nominating" or "Appointments" Committee. A. Bryson will write a few paragraphs describing how he thinks such a committee could --- -- function in Lexington. - -.. -- Bryson further suggested that a Recreation Planning Committee is Lit -Tj- S. of G.-. _____Y 11 Minutes -_-_,--, ___ ___ badly needed in Lexington. Ho pointed out the affinities among parks, recreation and conservation. He asked if the Conservation Commission could be combined with the Recreation Committee? , p M. Battin asked if the Conservation Comm. could also assume the function of a Lend Aquisition Committee as described in the TM14A report, to include the technical aspects of land negotiation as well as the formulation of a land aquisition plan. Commission -- already required to keep index of all town open land-knows soil conditions. Sussmans letter shows their experience in negotiations This proposal would eliminate need for an additional committee--a recommendation which has received some opposition. Discussion brought out the point that the original broadening of the Conservation Comm. role might not work as intended if there is a sit strongly conservation oriented membership. Also, actual negotiations are highly technical -- function that should propbly not be given to existing committees. It is a matter for specialists--possibly staff as suggested by Zaleski. M. Battin had a number of questions based on Alex Laleskki's comments on the TMMA report. She will direct these questions to -- ---. Zaleski. -- -- --- Hagedorn suggested that in the fall, having looked at these and other aspects of the planning complex in more detail, we assemble the people in Lexington government who have an interest in these______-__ questions, and have them talk together with us. Bryson brought up the question of a legal department, suggesting --- _.--- that that Town Counsel be provided with Assistant Counsel, whose time could be allocated by Town Counsel himself, among the various --- --- -- boards requiring legal assistance He feels that twincipal boards whould be visited by Counsel at every regular meeting, ________ _____ so that the possible legal implications of their problems will be brought up early The committee considered several questions for which local opinion was sought by participants in the statewide Home Rule meeting It was agreed that 1. 100 signatures for nomination papers of charter commissioner ri"'- appeared reasonable for towns of our size. 2. envy municipal official (lay board or town employee) should have such designation beside his name if a candidate fcr chatter commissioner 3. There should be a minimum residence requirement for charter , — coMmissioner candidates--it was suggested that voting -- requirement would be adequate. (Wass 1 year, town 6 months) The committee has no present recommendation for the classification of towns, e.g by form of government rather than size (population, assessed valuation, etc ) Meeting adjourned at 10 15. I Respectful ul y submitted, //9�gi! l tJec "il."._ For Lotto Soharfman