What the Massachusetts General Law states:
Chapter 39 - Section 16:
Section 16: Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties
Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election.
In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.
Also, there are mention of the Finance or Advisory Committee (s) in the Handbook for Selectmen and Handbook for Finance Committees.
So, unless a Town has a by-law stating the selectmen shall submit a budget to Town Meeting, it would be the job of the Finance or Advisory Committee. Templeton has Two by-laws on this topic, which means we have conflicting by-laws guiding the Town on how we do things. This was questioned by the Templeton Advisory Committee through a Town Administrator, Robert Markel, the question was sent to Town Counsel and options to deal with these issues were provided but as of yet, not dealt with.
No matter who does what, it is kind of hard to make and present a report to Town Meeting without first creating one, so to the Anonymous poster who stated Advisory Committee is to advise not create would be wrong. If one does more research, you will find one of the most important jobs of the Finance or Advisory Committee is to oversee the Town's reserve fund. There is a process to request money from the reserve fund, it is commonly called a policy and it was created by the Advisory Committee.
http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dls/publ/misc/town.pdf I googled this very helpful and should be given to every household as a link in with their census to read to become an educated citizen . Thankyou
ReplyDeleteI’m no attorney , but looking at what you are citing Jeff There is no obligation, but only a discretion, 'may' . Just as a citizen I would think if your had any legal authority to submit a budget to town meeting “ you “ all would do so.
ReplyDeletejust a thought.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI removed my comments - I was wrong . The selectboard specifically Ms Brooks asked questions and thanked the senator personally for her advocating for our town . My apologies especially to Selectman Brooks in this case if she reads this blog. Inquired about Grants were very pointed and relevant - Green Community is an initive discussed —- NO one else asked questions... but all thanked the senator .. Mr Fortes was not present left
ReplyDelete^ Referencing 2 -12-2018 selectboard meeting.
ReplyDeletePretty Standard,
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly why we need people to attend meetings, ask questions, bring ideas. We cannot rely on others to ask the necessary questions. We cannot expect our elected, volunteer committees and boards to raise all the necessary comments for the townspeople on every issue. They are, after all, in many cases just your neighbor who is just trying to help out, trying to fill a empty slot, add an opinion or just better his/her town.
We get the government we create. We have 23 or 24 positions open within the towns government structure. We need good folks to step forward and participate in moving this town forward.
On the idea of moving forward. I just want to mention this again. It's been a year since I went a little ballistic regarding the Towns website. You'll all be unimpressed to know that nothing, I mean absolutely nothing has improved. Committees still dont list the actual membership, links throughout bring you to nothing. Even the God Damn BOARDS AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS under the tab on the right or the link on the left hand side of the main page DONT bring you to the updated listing. This is the stuff that truly pisses me off. We have the TA, Chairman, many committees begging for help to fill positions and we cannot manage it. This is not the first, second or even third time I've mentioned this exact issue. I've mentioned it at BOS meetings, Advisory meetings, Capital Planning meetings. I've written emails regarding this very issue to pretty much the entire administration. It's truly maddening.
How the Hell do we expect to fill positions when its nearly impossible to find out which ones are open. Under the main link the EDIC and Baldwinville school committees aren't even listed.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!
BoB M I feel your pain. I clicked on the town website and well, like someone said you all might want to keep ALS in town as my BLood Pressure went thru the roof . What you ask should not be a difficult job in fact I would assume an intern unpaid could be used perhaps to do these basic updates .
ReplyDeleteI will also add this town may need a cannibis restaurant - tax the weed and then the food. I know I would probably take advantage of that after going onto the Town website
ReplyDelete13 of those committee opening have been on the list since last June I believe.We had 14 but a position was recently filled on Capital planning which brought it down to 13.
ReplyDeleteThen they added EDIC and BES for another 11.
The BOS/TA have talked about more advertising or better ways to promote the openings.......How about just list them properly.
For many people the webpage is how they find out what is going on. Good luck
sounds like the problem is the TA and selectmen if they do not want this resovled
ReplyDeleteYes, thankyou you as well. The internet is how people get information. This should not be a difficult task ? This is why people continue to lose ones faith in government - get out timely , accurate material.
ReplyDeleteI just want to mention that I do really like the idea of putting document with the Agenda on the BOS meeting page. It really is helpful. I think getting "all" the documents used in that meeting on each list would be even more helpful.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if we went to an entirely electronic/digital set up so all info would be available.
That is another great idea. Documents can be scanned pdf and uploaded in seconds with apps I have no idea why this is not done now . Is this a regulatory ? Issue or ? Thanks Bob
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem with most ideas is the ability to complete efficiently.
DeleteLike the above point on documents. Who uploads? Is it a paid employee, volunteer, committee member? How, when, format will that information be transmitted ( to uploader) If we say a committee member are they all capable of this type of submission.
It gets even more difficult I would imagine with volunteers from varying backgrounds capabilities, and abilities.
So in saying this, yes, their are many reasons why it is difficult to do, but that doesn't negate our need to do something.