HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-07-25-STG-min.pdf Structure of Town Govorminent Meeting
July 25. 1966
Present ;sirs. Richard Battin, Yr. Bomar Hagedorn, Mr. Stephen Russian,
Mrs. Howard Scharfman
Absent Mr. Arthur Bryson
Minutes of previous meeting were approv, d after clarification that
Charter Procedure Committee (p.2) was a subcommittee of Special
Commission on Home Rule.
Expenditure of fP2.8o was approved for (Na,ri:4,PI ki,nsth. Onniya?7OnI/ 3Cone I !a.• `;
Precis of June 1 met;ting was discussed. Russian felt own memory of that
meeting most helpful, but he and Scharfman will again review them to
be sure that the whole comiittee has same understanding of that meeting.
Discussion of TMMA report Scharfman wondered if we could get a man
who is really good to be CAO if he is only a glorified errand boy,
carrying out the decisions of others. Russian, on the other hand,
wondered if a really creative person wanted to be municipal employee,
whether one could get a creative person or only a good administrator.
Russian feels that no matter what form the governmental structure takes
it must provide for the hot shots who come along periodically and prod
the rest of us to move forward and innovate. Phe Winnekta plan appealed
to everyone and Russian will look into legality of it in Mass. The
only criticism of it may be that the voter is a step removed from the
actual choices of candidates; all felt this argument could be met.
Hagedorn and Battin explained that the TMMA report hoped to make the
Selectmen' s job more interesting to a greater variety ofevap s. Under-
standing of the total picture exists only in the Town Meeting now, and
of necessity, is not deep. The Finance Committee could perform this
function; could the CAO? The Selectmen have traditionallt been reluctant
to be removed from the people and their concern is therefore for the
immediate. It was the hope of the MITA report to change the structure
and thus enable the Selectmen to take broader, long-range view.
All agreed that the innovative function must exist someplace and that
more nein is needed for details. Some discussion on whether structural
changes really bring about meaningful changes in functioning of the
government. Agreed that attitudes must be changed, however, well thought
out structural changes may facilitate modification of attitudes and
then basic changes may occur. Hagedorn summarized by explaining thatecornmanc
e.tions, structural changes focus the existing Treble= and the changes then
l0% symbolize different attitudes. This discussion took place in the context
of the relationship between the Selectmen and their staff assistant.
Mrs. B. pointed out that the Brookline Town Meeting actually votes
what the Executive Secretary does and this works oi.t well; sometimes
job descriptions can be formalized successfully.
Rus ian raised the question of limiting the number of terms a Select-
man can run. Winchester practices this policy and other towns have it
in their by-laws. He feels this could reduce cumulative problems of
being indebted to people who helped in the election. Some people don' t
want to run for selectman because they do not wish to be associated
with this kind of croyism. Russian agreed with Battin L•hat if the
Structure of Town Goverment, July 25, page 2
appointing power were changed, such as in the Winnetka plan or a modi-
fication thereof, this kind of political power would be tnta diuiinidied.
Hagedorn pointed out that we are really talking about po tical power
centers in Lexington how many do we need? how do they differ from one
another? and how are they balanced?
Alex Zaleski told Battin that if the Planning Board is appointed,
they voift never go against the Selectmen, thus re,lucing a power center.
Russian feels it would be drastic to make the Planning Board appointed
and thus subservient to the Selectmen and have them worry about the
daily problems. Hagedorn feels they are already involved in such problems
11 but have a different attitude. He does not feel it really matters
as along as different points of view are clearly articulated and defirn_d
and brought into the 'lrovmi Meeting,. The Advisory Committee of the TMIdA
report would bring in the "other"point of view. Russian countered
by expressing his tear that the Planning Board would lose their inde-
pendence and this was not worth the increased centralization and the
gains a thieved from it. Hagedorn feels that only the executive has
complete access to information; that the future of town government is
bound to tax rate, land use, municipal resources and t)iextfore the
planning function must be a complete package. Zaleski,toxpressed
:ais conviction that ,he technical run tion of the Planning Board would
suffer if they are appointed;"'tl3aa`t"the�i will not initiate studies, etc.
Ygnd nal aetdldr4 p rlmaty respointbihtlf for hood ,
Discussion for future committee meetings revolved around the ad_uantagesQNWra,
of meeting with each board separately or with a "planning complex" of
several involved in that function. Committee agreed it would be useful
to do both.
Mooting with Bob Kent, moderator, scheduled as next one, Aug. 8. The
Selectmen would like to meet with us and this is tentatively scheduled
for Sept. 8. Planning Board meeting perhaps Sept. 22.
Battin questioned need for another August meeting to discuss, e.g. ,
Scharfman's reaction to reading Town Manager material. Decision as
to whether such a meeting is needed will wait until we think further
about what might be accomplished at such a meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
/aUeAlittaAci