HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-08-10-STG-min.pdf Structure i Town Government Committee
August 10, 1966
Present Homer Hagedorn, Stephen Russian, Mrs. Richard Battin,
Mrs. Howard Scharfman
Absent Arthur Bryson
Th Invited Guest Robert Kent, Town Moderator
Observer Mrs. Robert Easay, League of Women Voters of Lexington
Tentative schedule of next meetings
September 8, 1966 with Board of Selectmen (confirmed)
September 22, 1966 with Planning Board
August 31 or Sept. 1 with Appropriations Committee
Committee decided to print newstory in Minute-Man, about the testimony
given by Battin on July 27, 1966 to Special Commission to Implement
Home Rule Amendment.
Remainder of evening was devoted to discussion with Mr. Kent Battin
introduced subject matter by summarizing the reactions received so far
to the TMMA report.
Power centers in Lexington Mr. Kent very concerned about the Planning
Board and therefore wanted Bryson, former chairman of that Board, on
this committee. Kent has strong reservations about the Planning Board
being appointed by the Selectmen.
Mr. Kfi'et explained that the existence of a Structure of Government
Committee should not necessarily imply that Lexington needs any broad
reconstruction of its government. He feels that the political structure
is good; the business (management of the municipal corporation) structure
shows the inevitable pains of growth. He is cautious about centralizing F
too much power at the policy level; checks and balances are healthy;
focus of conflirtying ideas before the Town Meeting is helpful . us
feels the Planning Board should therefore continue to be an elective offle e
although having i±ammtx policy making power and appointive powers too
widely distributed ca n also create problems. New schemo for making
appointments could possibly change his feelir,, tut probably not.
"Winnetka" plan seems cumbersome and complicated, but a variation of
it may prove feasible.
The function of the Planning Board could become broader. Up to now,
Board has spent much time on zoning and sub-divisions, but that will
gradually change. The Planning Board may absorb the function of the
Capital Expensidute Committee. The latter developed out of the need
for long ranfe financial planning, but very recently Seems to function
as a financial watch dog of the town, perhaps duplicating rile of
Appropriations Committee. Capital Expenditure Committee not politically
responsible to Selectmen; Moderator may have an axe to grind but he is
not part of policy ,,ecigiond. Mr. Kent reiterated importance of
separating the powors of ? 1Cy decisions from appointive powers.
Discussion develpp d s ;o teal function of Capital Expenditure Committee;
agree; that must pla f' L tie large expenditure, including bonding,
and no; ally , as .:s:s.,ant figure on tax rate. They are planning and
informi.,g arm of town c er they point out what unscheduled expense would
do to ta.: ra .e. Keg^uo r. ,•.estioned whether we need a committee or a
clerk to jierf-mm that ft_ 9tioa. Kent agreed to need of staff to compile
statistical 'c) atl 'n Yak; only an official Town Committee would have
impact on r' 'n .Hettng Kent and Russian see tension between Appropriator
Committee d G .ast4.2 Expenditure Committee as useful, likened to Federal
Resrerve Bc 'rd which has independence from Congress and Executive.
JImporta.nn :pare_rthetical comment Kent does not believe non-elected
offi.oials sh ald have appointive power.
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Committee agreed with Hagedorn that political power of Planna a Board
stems primarly from power to control zoning. Therefore Hagedorn
sikel7-Tireflas Board be elected? Kent answered that zoning changes
are among the most important political decisions town makes. Committee
agreed with that.
Brief discussion on how committees choose their chairmen. Agreed it
should not be an automatic taking of turns; su ch procedure may deter
some from running for office and also does not assure best qualified
member is chairman.
Role of Moderator'
Kent believes that the Moderator should be elected by the whole town for
a one year term, even though collecting signatures so often is a
nuisance. Term should be oneL ear so he cap ke removed easily if
public wishes. Kent pointed Sint that electorate has a chancy o object
to a Board's policies by not reacting one if its members year.
Moderator is a good "depository of appointive powers" and skillful
moderating and making wise appointment do go together because both
regia re understanding of people and functioning of town. .There is
room for broader participation in making appointments, however. The
lists supplied by TMMA very helpful. Perhaps a TMA committee could be
given an official status as an advisory and confirming group.
of the Town Meeting,
Popular election makes the moderator indepedentj Kent continued, thus
preventing power blocks maneuvering to get their man elected as
moderator, freeing the popularly elected moderator for his appointive
function. Moderator could uge clerical help at certain times.
Centralizing Business Function
Kent very sympathetic to centpalizina businessf mction under Selectmen.
Are the powers neeaed more like a Town Manager than Executive Secretary?
Kent urged Structure of Government Committee to seriously consider Manager
Plan even if only to discard it.
Committee agreed Lexington has had good government because we have had
some excellent town employees.
Kent asked whether the police and fire departments could be consolidated
into one department of Public Serety, realizing tnat tnis is a tougn
pullLicai problem. Should municipal emplyees be prohibited from running
for Town Meeting? Conflict of Interest Code should be considered.
Clearly no one should have to vote own their own salary, for example.
Town Clerk
Office is administartive, requires professionalism, keeps town records,
and should not be subject to pressure from any Board. Patronage must
be eliminated; is civil service a possible pvotection?
Town Treasurer
Pressure care exterted on where money should be invested
Town Counsel
Moderator gets all the help he needs. Problem does exist in qhantity
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Agust 10, 1966 page 3
1 help for other Town Committees and Boards and help for citizens in
drafting articles for warrants, etc . One possible solution may be
"house counsel" functioning during specified hours for above purposes.
A well trained professional administrative officer or town manager
should be able to help Town Boards and Committees screen problems that
really require legal assistance. Attendance by such a man at Selectemnncs
meetings would relieve Town Counsel, for example. Furthermore, appointigE
a lawyer as a member of Town Committees also serves as a screening fU.nett..°
Kent does not want to see Town Counsel serve under the CAO; he should
not be a Town emplyee. Perhaps anyone seeking advice of Counsel should
have. to go through CAO, but this does not imply that Town Counsel should
serve under CAO.
Kent thanked Committee for undertaking this job.
Respectfully submitted,
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