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Home My WebLink About1977-11-30-WEMO-min.pdf �..�.:� ' � ��9� . MINUTES WEMO MEETING NOVEMBER 30, 1976 Arlington Town Hall Hearing Room Both the Vice-Chairman of the Arlington Board of Selectmen and Selectman Margaret Spengler of Arlington wel- comed the WEMO organization to the town. Town Manager of Arlington Donald Marquis described the historical sequence � of home rule as it waxed and waned in strength in New � England and emphasized the need for doing a professional management job in local government if communities are going to continue urging the state to allow greater exercise af home rule powers . Legislative Liaison Network: Peg Spengler described the legislative liaison program and urged that everyone on a board of selectmen designate a liaison person. Beacon Coverage of WEMO: Janet Lake will provide inaterial o -interest to all local officials to be carried about WEMO activities in the League Beacon. . Future Me�etin s__: The January 12 meeting will be held in Concord. The February 9 meeting will be held in.. Sharon. Saturday meeting will be held in March, possibly in Milford, for the convenience of WEMO working members. It was suggested that WEMO consider holding small group regional meetings on issues of regional importance. This will be considered at the Saturday March, .meeting. Come prepared to express your views about WEMO regional meetings--when--where--what regions-- what topics. County Advisory Boards: Senator John Olver, Hampshire County Deborah Buresh, Middlesex County Advisory Statf Sheldon Cohen, Essex County � Adva.sory Staff Sena�or 01ver descr3bed the way that some of the more �uccess�'ul programs in Hampshire, Berkshire and �'ranklin counties, operate. He noted that planning agencies have � real ties to local government and tend to deal with practical issues instead of theoret�.cal planning. These aoun�ies have set up eld�rly �ranspor�ation systems , have set aside moun- tainous areas with separate res�ric�ions on kind and type of dev��opmant (� form of regional land-use legislation) and �. - /" 4` / �M '`\// '� / also have established regional housing authority dealing with construction, rehabilitation and rent supplemen.t pro- grams. However, he cautioned, �local officials don't necessarily see the counties as not interfering in local affairs. � Deborah Buresh pointed out that since the advisory � boards were established two years ago, Middlesex County advisory board had recommended over $2 million in savings on the county budget, but that only $600 ,000 had actually been removed from the budget. She suggested that designees for mayors and selectmen be allowed to sit on the advisory boards and that a simple majority rather than a 2/3 vote be required to make budget recommendations . : 5heldon Cohen stated that the advisory boards were created in unworkable form orignally. 8recommend adchange board attend the meetings but when they in county budgets in Essex County only 15-20� of the recom- mendations are being followed by the �.egislature . (To make a budge� recommendation, a 2/3 vote o� the advisory board is required) . He described the fiscal home rul.e for counties , bill filed by the Massachusetts League of Cities and Towns and the Massachusetts Mayors ' Association to put responsi- bility for county budgets in the hands of county commissioners. This would promo�e accountability. A spirited discussion between Cohen and Olver followed, on the viability of such legislation. Olver concluded that the real questioandaif whether the state needs a mid-level of government, so, what it ought to be empowered to do. _._ Nominees for A�pofnh�n�ommittee tordevelop methods for reported on the work o e recommending people from WEMO for appointments. . The committee will circulate a request to find WEMO . members who wish to receive notification of all requests for nominations for appointment to boards and committees . (The suggestion was made to include the names of tormer selectmen and councillors since they are also able people) . I� ta.�ne a�1Qws , � l��e� wil]. b� sez�t �o a7.], those �ndicating they wi�h notification, describinq the position tha� i� open• If time i� limited, selective phone calls will have to be made to those on the list whose backgrounds make them appear to be the most 1.ikel.y candidates . �t was recommended that the ��.na�. selection of the names WEMO wi7.1 submit to the appoin�inq authorities will be the sesponsibility of a standinq committee who wi11 be charged with getting to �MO personally the WEMO members on the notification list. voted to accept the report, institute ,the procedure described and establish a standing comma.ttee consisti.ng of the original committee , Joan Gardnerr Acton , Chairmanf Marjorie Davis , Wenham� Marcia Crowley, Waylandt Barbara Ackerman, Cambridgei Francis McNultyr �Qxtk�ampton; p1us , Colleen Tuck of Sharon�