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.

Town meeting, May 12, 1992 - article 17 "On a motion duly made and seconded, the town voted to fix the compensation for all elected and appointed officers of the town. . ."

Chairman Advisory Committee                        $169.00

Templeton General by-laws Article IV Advisory Committee

Section 6: It shall be the duty of the Advisory Committee to make an annual report of its doings, with recommendations relative to financial matters and the conduct of town business, to be contained in the annual town report.

Sections 1-4, 5, 6 passed 3-5-51. So, the Advisory Committee has been so named since 1951 in the records of the Town's annual town meeting and since by-laws are approved by the attorney general of the commonwealth, it seems that if in the annual town reports, it has Advisory Board, the annual town reports appear to be incorrect.  Is that an insignificant item? Does it matter if the committee is referenced incorrectly in the annual reports and correctly in the official record of the town's legislative body? (town meeting)  What does it say if said committee refers to itself in the wrong name while trying to advise town meeting on financial matters and giving them a report that the committee says is accurate and reflects factual information if they cannot even get their name correct, that seems to be the Advisory Committee within state law and the town's own by-laws dating back to 1951.

I wonder what the secretary of state and the attorney general's office would think or say if the board of selectmen began (or continued) to call themselves the superior board and put that in the town annual report.  "this by-law change submitted by the superior board and it was sent off to the attorney general for approval. Would that term fly? Would people let that term fly/ So why is it different for the Advisory Committee. Perhaps a letter to the attorney general's office and the secretary of state with that question; Does it matter what the advisory committee is called? Advisory Board or Advisory Committee.

Personally, I think it goes to credibility, but I could be wrong.

posted by Jeff Bennett