HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-09-06-BOS-min 329
IIIMINUTES OF BREAKFAST MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN - SEPTEMBER 6, 1978
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Battin at 7 30 A.M. Those
present included Mrs Battin, Mrs. Miley, Mr Busa, Mr Kent, Mr Crain,
Mr. Hutchinson, Town Manager, Nancy Banks, Assistant to the Town Manager
and guests -- Mr Otis, Brown, Chairman of School Committee, Mr Al Zabin,
Chairman Planning Board, Mrs Mary Shunney, Chairman Housing Authority,
Mr David Williams, Chairman Conservation Commission, Mrs Judy Uhrig,
Chairman Recreation Committee, Dr. William Consgrove, Chairman Board of
Health, Mr William Sen, Chairman Council on Aging,and Mrs Marcia Feakes,
Chairman Youth Commission
Mrs Battin opened the meeting briefly outlining the purpose of the
meeting and the nedd for committees to work together Beginning with the
first item on the agenda, Mrs Battin asked for ideas and comments on how
the Boards and committees can better relate to one another in discharging
on-going duties and responsibilities
Comments included
- it is not enough to work with just committees; additional
communication is needed
- school conversion is a committee of committees and has a built-in
communication systems; the problem is when there is no formal communi-
cation structure
- committees tend to be filled with too many pro people, they need to
represent broader view points
- must institutionalize communications, but not to the point of
abdicating committee responsibility
- problem is timing -- decision to communicate often comes too late in
process to allow full communication
- boards work well on particular issues when boards seek our communication;
dialog is started and issues come to the forefront
- committees should operate on basis of "no surprizes'
Mrs Battin read a section of the Selectmen's proposed policies and
procedures, placing responsibility for committee interaction in the Town
Manager's office Generally the Chairman agreed that this was an appropriate
move
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Selectmen's Breakfast Meeting - 2 - September 6, 1978
From the discussion, the Chairmen identified the following list of
examples in which interboard relations are working well, need improvement,
and do not exist but should.
Working Well Need improvement Do not exist but should
Transportation Promolgation & Enforcement Brook cleaning
School Conversion of Town by-laws Board of Appeal decision
Scattered Site Sewage Development Grant Proposal-writing
Housing Upkeep of grounds, school for Federal & State
and library monies
Maintenance of park,
recreation and conservation
lands
Youth Employment
Mrs Battin moved to the second item on the agenda, establishing a
process for long-range planning, describing the Board's present efforts,
looking particularly at fiscal policy and projected tax rates It was
agreed that long-range planning is desirable and that a .process for this
type of planning should be the responsibility of the Board of Selectmen
The Chairman discussed briefly the area of enforcement Recognizing
that selective enforcement is unhealthy, it was agreed that by-laws should
be reviewed and those that are uninforceable or no longer represent the
needs of the community should be changed
Mrs Battin moved to the final item on the agenda, committee
relationships with staff Comments and suggestions included
- staff should better utilize Town Manager's Office
- materials sent to committees should be routed through staff
It was agreed that this type of dialog was very useful and that it
would be valuable to meet again in two months
0 1h
Nancy H ks
Assistan to the Town Manager
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