What is in a name?
State law says it is the Finance Committee or Advisory Committee or in some communities, a Warrant Committee. Somehow, somewhere, this name morphed into Advisory Board in Templeton and in some other communities. Templeton by-laws state: Advisory Committee. This is something I raised a while ago and at least one member noted "it has been Advisory Board in all the annual town reports dated back to the seventies." The email address for the Advisory Committee has Advisory Board rather than Advisory Committee. As I have previously stated, the correct name has meaning and importance because it goes to credibility and confusion. State law says Committee, Town by-law says Committee, it is the association of finance committees not board. It needs to be addressed, fixed and corrected once and for all. It does matter and if anyone is going to comment on rules, procedures, laws and other things, lets begin with the correct name and stick to it because it matters!
The name does not really affect the function but it does sometimes create confusion especially when the board of selectmen and the Advisory Committee are discussed in the same line. Is a board more "powerful" than a committee? The is one state committee that is very powerful and influential - it is the state House Ways and Means Committee. Then there is the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and we have the Municipal Finance Oversight Board. I believe if you check, you will find that financial wise, pretty much all things live and die in the House Ways and Means Committee.
That is my opinion.
posted by Jeff Bennett
This needs to happen across the board as many of our committees have multiple names and identical abbreviations.
ReplyDeleteThis make finding information extra difficult as its a matter of deciphering in some cases.
Along these lines it also appears we should make some rule, by-law, policy or procedure that makes it inappropriate to have anyone on 6+ Committees.
ReplyDeleteWe have a couple individuals who seem to have way to much say in specific areas of the Town. I've looked into other towns a little and none that I looked into have members steering committees like in Templeton.
As a Note: We have John C on holding 6 seats on town government. We have Kirk M holding down 6 seats. We have Mike M holding down 5 seats. Now I'm not saying any of these people are doing anything inappropriate, or that they are not doing a good job. I am however saying I think its a terrible idea to have 1 member, especially board Chairman controlling so much input into the towns management.
The only reason to put BOS members on every committee is to control outcomes. It's fairly obvious to anyone paying attention that the "passing of information" is not a valid reason to have them on multiple committees. Has it shown to aid communication, NO. It's only assisted in poor policies, procedure adherence and violation of multiple by-laws, laws, regulations as shown in audit.
We need to eliminate the packing of committees with member of other boards and committee. We need to avoid "groupthink" at all costs. We need new ideas, new plans.
I'm sorry, but the idea of Templeton even discussing a "service pin" in this environment is insulting to taxpayers.
My opinion as always!