At a public forum held Dec. 6, a study committee, formed as a result of a vote at March’s Annual Town Meeting, presented three options for changes to the selection process for Finance Committee members.
The group, made up of two members each from the Finance Committee, the School Committee, and the Board of Selectmen, as well as the town moderator and two members of the public at large, was formed in response to citizens’ concerns about the current process. Under the current method, Finance Committee members are appointed by the town moderator, a process adopted at Town Meeting in 1993, and in use by a majority of the towns in the state.
The study committee, charged with researching the practices of other towns, gathering public input, issuing a report, providing a draft warrant article for next year’s Town Meeting, and addressing any recommended changes, asked residents to consider these alternatives to the current selection process:
- Appointment by the moderator, but with the addition of a defined process for identifying potential candidates and gathering public input
- Election by public ballot
- Appointment by a committee made up of the moderator, a School Committee member and a selectman, with the possible addition of a Finance Committee member and a fifth representative to be determined.
When asked how the committee had voted on the different alternatives, committee member Lucy Wallace, one of the two representatives from the Board of Selectmen, answered that, in her opinion, the majority does not support the idea of elections, but they are looking for more transparency in the selection process.
In the ensuing discussion there was general agreement that the Finance Committee must be independent and knowledgeable and that the process for selecting members should be more transparent. The group discussed the importance of balance on the committee and the challenge of supporting change and new ideas without sacrificing experience.
Committee member Laura Martineau, one of the at-large members, explained that some people have felt that there should be more checks and balances in the process and not just one person making the appointment.
Stu Sklar, one of the group’s two School Committee members, said a major issue he sees with the process is a perceived lack of balance on the Finance Committee, in terms of how it represents the larger community. He said the community needs to define that balance, a sentiment echoed by resident Holly Rothkopf.
Committee member Maria Kaufmann, the other at-large member, expressed concern that the important philosophical decisions involved in the process of preparing the budget for the town are being made at the Finance Committee level and that residents don’t have access to that decision-making, especially those who are new to town.
“How do you affect the people who make the decisions?” she asked.
Cindy Russo, one day shy of her official last day on the Finance Committee, explained that the influence of the Finance Committee has been overstated.
“We’re not that powerful,” she said. “What we do is actually pretty boring and technical.”
She argued that the issue should not be balance but whether potential members are knowledgeable and properly qualified.
Many attendees were concerned that by going to elections or to appointment by the elected boards that control the town and school budgets, the Finance Committee would not be perceived as independent.
“Who will the general voter trust when the Finance Committee says an override is necessary?” Russo asked.
This sentiment was echoed by others who worried about giving the School Committee and the selectmen more power to choose the group that will make recommendations on their budgets.
Committee member George McKenna, one of the two Finance Committee representatives, noted that only about 12 percent of communities statewide choose their Finance Committee by election.
“People run on agendas to get elected,” he said.
Warren Ave. resident Bruce Leicher was not sure a perfect method would be found. “It may not be the best idea to put all the decision-making power in one person’s hands, but I’m opposed to switching to an election format—it would politicize it,” he said.
Scott Road resident Laura Andrews wanted to know if keeping things the way they are is an alternative. “I don’t see it on the handout,” she said. “I would caution the committee to be careful not to destroy what has been built.”
Some former Finance Committee members agreed. Paul Olsen reminded those present that “the moderator is the broadest-base elected official in town.” He echoed Don Green’s sentiment that the system is working and that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
“What system would most promote a committee that has longevity and experience and new thinking?” asked Rothkopf.
Along with others who worried about the loss of valuable experience and institutional memory, Leicher answered that he does not favor term limits, but suggested that greater accountability could be achieved by handling re-appointments with the same transparent process as appointments. Not disagreeing, resident Ron Ricci commented that in this regard, the same standard should be applied to other committees that have some power, such as the Conservation Commission.
“The appointment process should be uniform across the boards,” agreed Selectman Tim Clark.
The study committee introduced the idea of “associate members,” two of whom would be appointed by the moderator for one-year terms. These nonvoting members would hopefully bring new thinking into committee discussion and debate, as well as provide a pool of potential candidates to fill vacancies on the committee. This proposal drew general support from those present.
Wallace said that the next steps for the committee will include synthesizing community input into a report to the town, to be presented at another public meeting in late January, after which any changes to the current bylaw governing Finance Committee appointments will be drafted for Town Meeting in March. Committee members said they welcome additional community input, which should be directed to Town Administrator Tim Bragan. E-mails can be sent to Tim at tbragan@harvard.ma.us.
