TMMA: Gathering Information Year-Round

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TMMA: Gathering Information Year-Round TMMA Executive Committee. L/R seated: Paul Riffin, Kenneth Alves, Suzanne Frank, Florence Baturin. Standing: Paul Hamburger; Suanne Dillman; James Silva; Georgia Glick; John Eddison; Margaret Rawls, Chairman; Setha Olson. Other members are listed below. Town Meeting members, "in order to fulfill the obli- gations of representative government," established the Town Meeting Members Association "to acquaint themselves more fully with the facts necessary for intelligent decisions and to assist in any other constructive way in the government of Lexington," state the association by -laws. Not an official town body, it is a volunteer organization composed of all interested town meeting members who yearly elect three executive committee members from each precinct. The work of the Executive Committee is aimed at pro- viding unbiased information to town meeting members. It is carried out in monthly meetings open to anyone interested, and through smaller committees devoted to the study of particular government activities, espe- cially those resulting from town meeting votes, or leading to a request for town meeting action. Ob- servers attend meetings and report on the progress of important study committees which will be making re- commendations of town -wide impact, such as the Muzzey Conversion Committee, the Accessory Apartment Commit- tee and the Selectmen /Town Manager Act Review Commit- tee. When the executive committee deems it appropri- ate or necessary, informative bulletins are sent to the town meeting members. Each year the TMMA prepares a warrant information report and holds a series of information meetings prior to the Annual Town Meeting in the spring. The executive committee is working this year to improve the quality of available information and the presen- tation of that information with emphasis on a fact sheet to complement the information already included in the warrant. Last spring a group of seven town meeting members, appointed by the executive committee to study the budget process in Lexington and the responsibilities of those who play a role in developing and approving budgets, published their findings in a 27 -page re- port. The printed report was distributed at the Annual Town Meeting and is available to other inter- ested residents. The TMMA has other publications to assist Town Meet- ing members and other citizens. These include a handbook, Town Meeting in Lexington, and an orienta- tion packet for new town meeting members, both writ- ten and published in 1979. Precinct One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine 1982 -83 Executive Committee Chairman - Margaret Rawls, Precinct 4 Vice Chairman - Carolyn Wilson, Precinct 2 Clerk - Suzanne Frank, Precinct 8 Treasurer - John Taylor, Precinct 7 Chairman Judith L. Zabin Carolyn C. Wilson Paul V. Riffin Margaret F. Rawls Paul E. Hamburger Setha G. Olson John E. Taylor Patricia McCabe Kenneth 0. Alves Clerk Associate Sheila Busa - Tassone James S. Wilson Lynda A. Wik Barry H. Marshall Suanne C. Dillman Phyllis Aaronson Peter C. J. Kelley Georgia S. Glick James L. Silva Florence A. Baturin Edith Sandy Thomas E. Fortmann Winifred L. L. Friedman Myron L. Miller Suzanne S. Frank Carolyn H. Tiffany John C. Eddison James J. Findley 15 Policy /Administration