There was a lengthy discussion at the Select Board last evening about placing a non binding question on the town election ballot to ask if voters would like to see the form of our town government changed. Dartmouth has the standard form of town government (MGL chapter 43A) in the Commonwealth which is a Town Meeting as the legislature and the Select Board as an executive body. There are six other forms of government detailed in the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL Chapter 43) and the town may also invent another form as we see fit under the home rule provisions of the state Constitution.
Article II. Section 1. Right of Local Self-Government. - It is the intention of this article to reaffirm the customary and traditional liberties of the people with respect to the conduct of their local government, and to grant and confirm to the people of every city and town the right of self-government in local matters, subject to the provisions of this article and to such standards and requirements as the general court may establish by law in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Section 2. Local Power to adopt, revise or amend Charters. - Any city or town shall have the power to adopt or revise a charter or to amend its existing charter through the procedures set forth in sections three and four. The provisions of any adopted or revised charter or any charter amendment shall not be inconsistent with the constitution or any laws enacted by the general court in conformity with the powers reserved to the general court by section eight.
No town of fewer than twelve thousand inhabitants shall adopt a city form of government, and no town of fewer than six thousand inhabitants shall adopt a form of government providing for a town meeting limited to such inhabitants of the town as may be elected to meet, deliberate, act and vote in the exercise of the corporate powers of the town.
As I said last evening, I like the current form, ...
... especially Town Meeting which allows everyone to speak. One drawback of this form is that the legislature, the Town Meeting, meets so infrequently that budgets tend to be overestimated so that the departmental funding does not run out before the end of the fiscal year. I would support changing to a different form if the affairs of the town required multiple Town Meetings in a single year. I don't think the town is there yet.
What do you think about changing the form of town government?
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40 comments:
I found it very uncomfortable to watch Lara Stone try to form a ballot question to obtain the response she was looking for. She clearly stated that she favors the current form of government. She also stated she was concerned that a ballot question would get a majority yes vote to change the form of government which she is not in favor of. Highly questionable integrity to say the least.
The time spent last night on this topic was ridiculous. If the voters favor a change in our government, it would then require an elected charter commission. If I am correct, it would also require around 35,000 signatures from registered voters. Who is going to collect those signatures? Did Mr. Watson think about that before wasting a highly paid attorney's time to sit around for a few hours while this was debated? Mr. Savastano is still going to be working on this today. How much are we paying in attorney's fees for this? If the residents want a change in our government, then it is up to them to collect the signatures and get the Charter Commission candidates on the ballot. Last night was a waste of money for something that will more than likely never happen unless Mr. Watson is willing to get the signatures needed. That may be the case but I did not hear it from him last night.
and the ball is rolling...BOY we saw this coming LAST YEAR...all the players are in place...Sharek to run for Mayor..as he has indicated his interest before.
10 member town council...which I hope REMIANS unpaid...ie select board
Cressman is out of the door..Sharek takes his spot making 100k a year.
That in its self is a waste of money...Taxpayers paid THOUSANDS JUST TO LOOK FOR THE GUY...then in a year or so..he will be out on his @$$...by the way...that was a MICHAUD MOVE...He hired the search firm...to conduct a nation wide search
Dartmouth has the lowest taxes in the area(in regards to municipality size)
that is all due to Town Meeting.
Anon2:42,
Don't you have some sheep to shear? You never contribute anything to this blog except total B.S.
This is yet ANOTHER attempt to take power from the "people".
Why not just have a King of Dartmouth if we are taking control out of OUR hands!!!
Representative town meeting is what our founding fathers wanted for us and what has worked for Dartmouth for hundreds of years.
I will never vote for this!
I have worked in both the Mayor/City Council and Town Meeting/Select Board forms of government. As I have said many times before, both publicly and privately, I prefer Town Meeting/Select Board. In my view, there is no pressing need to change what is working.
It seems to me 2:42 contributed enough...it's not BS...Sharek has said that in the past
Lara Stone wasn't trying to get a certain result. She was seeking to formulate a question that was fair. She did an excellent job of identifying each Board member's concerns and steering the Board toward agreement. She did a good job.
After last nights fiasco I think we do need a new form of government. The meeting was so unprofessional. Cell phones ringing, Nat eating. Lara/Sharek worrying about the voters saying no to the vote. Nat rushing to get through the meeting, Watson delaying the town Council $$$$.
Some time ago I received a call from the late Greg Tougas asking if I would be willing to run and serve on a charter review commission in order to assess the benefits of a new form of government. At the time I was willing to do so. Since then there has been constructive debate regarding this issue.
This debate has exposed two complaints about the town meeting form of government. One is expediency of action on budget items. The other is that special interests, namely town employees, control this legislative body.
While a town council would allow us to be a bit more nimble on budget items, I haven't seen any major examples of town council being advantagous in this area.
Regarding the second complaint, the CFRG did a report where 37% of town meeting members were identified as being town employees or directly related. At first glance, 37% doesn't seem like a majority. However, if a third of TM members don't show up and all those with a personal stake in the budget do show, then they have a majority. My question would be, will having a town council change this? I don't think it would. Special interest groups would run their candidates just as they do now for the Select Board and other elected positions. In the end we would have the same representation except with a concentration of power to approve the budget.
I am leaning towards preferring our current town meeting form of government. There is certainly room for improvement of our structure within our current form of government. I also believe that implementing those changes is a strong suit of our new Executive Adminstrator and a major reason that he landed the job here.
Sorry posted to the wrrng thread....Town Meeting is NUTS ! Here's a case to get rid of this form. Uneducated people on the issues form an opinion as they receive their packet or walk through the door minutes before the meeting starts...then VOTE! are you FN kidding me. Case and point: SB & FinCom a year ago recommended to TM that the Youth Commission was a nice to have but not necessary. Yet, emotional appeals are made from the floor of TM and motions are made to fund the line item and restore it to the budget causing a ripple effect. This was after, hard working professional folks who serve our boards vetted, debated and reviewed for hours prior to TM, only to have it changed in the waning minutes. Then we were told that this department would work hard to seek grants and other funding sources. Think thats happened? I haven't heard ANYTHING so I doubt it. So theres your bait and switch ! So, in the end TM funds $80K for a department that looks to serve only few in town and has no town-wide tax-payer appeal (other than wanting to do it). Yet, TM memebers won't go to their voters and explain the benefits of what small override, an INVESTMENT to a much larger population of children in town and explain what the benefits and the return on this investment are.
My motion from the floor will be to transfer $80K from YC to get FDK off the ground. No override necessary!!
Bill and other SC / FinCom officials...would you support this?
I think the fact that the youth commissioner has to wage a political battle every year to keep his job speaks volumes. He is the epitome of a political hack.
Tell that to the hundreds of kids he helps get off drugs or have personal issues that they hide from their parents.
Unfortunately you hold the FIN/COM to a much higher regard than I do. I see them as political ideologues
Take the Flag By-law, a simple by-law to have the town purchase flags made in the USA....
What happened? Ideology of FREE TRADE came into play and the majority of the FIN COM shot it down.
Luckily for TM, they told FIN COM just what they thought of it.
We don't need IDEOLOGUES in places where financial decisions are made.
I am a small business owner in Dartmouth who produces widgets for the auto industry. Could you pass a by-law for me so that I won't have to compete in the real world? How come so many veterans were against the flag by-law?
The Youth Commission has had a year to figure out where to get money if the YA's position is in danger. This has in actuality been the case for a few years now, I believe. Each time the YA has won a reprieve and has retained his job.
Last year the chairperson came before the Select Board and pleaded the YA's case. When asked if there were grants available to help fund the position, she stated that the Commission had not had the time to search for any, having just learned that the YA's position was in jeopardy. Yet it was the talk of the town and all over the YA's town website for months. Come on, who's fooling who? (Are we that gullible? Apparently, because the YA won his position again for the year. Maybe we just all deserve getting taken to the cleaners by our government?) So, how did that equate with not knowing in time and thus having no time to search for grants?
And, the prior year (or years) the YA also was in jeopardy of losing his job. Do you mean to tell me that the Commission couldn't see the writing on the wall then and began preparing its search for sources of funding back then, in preparation for the possibility of this same jeopardy occurring the following year, as we see it did? Yet, it was claimed there was not enough time last year to prepare.
Have they found any grants or funding sources this year? If so, we haven't heard of any, I don't believe.
What does that tell you? To me it demonstrates pure gall and an attitude that the taxpayers will once again, through TM, okay the position with no effort having to be exerted on their part to help find money themselves. There is clearly nearly nothing to cut from his budget, so they can't "help" with funding there; no cuts to be made.
So they come to the Select Board, plead with its members and the public, through the town website last year, and then plead again at Town Meeting.
The above poster is right. Where has the Youth Commission done its part to help this town save some money? It's had a year now to search for grants. Has it done so? Why are Dartmouth taxpayers always played for like fools?
Or do we just fall for that "pity" routine? Of course that's what they all count on. What a bunch of big, compassionate softies we all are. Yup, guess we are that gullible.
Anon 2:49 said "...a department that looks to serve only few in town" in regards to the YC. I would assume then that the poster also favors disestablishing the office of Veteran's Affairs since there are only a "few" Veterans in town in comparison to the entire population. I would then also assume that next we would get rid of the Council on Aging since there are less seniors in the town than non-seniors. Certainly the poster would agree that if the YC should be done away with, then these two other facets of Dartmouth town government should be cast aside also.
Notice what suffers? The elderly nutrition program. Did it get cut to give money to FDK?
Why is there so little value given to the seniors? Talk a big game about your concern for them, and they are the first whose programs go.
I suppose it's because the children are our future?? The elderly GAVE them their future. So, it's okay to turn your backs on them now? After all, how many more years do they have, do you think?
There are other agencies that can do what the youth advocate does and they should be looked into and utilized. I wonder if the veterans are as fortunate to have as many agencies or advocates to turn to for assistance. They need as much a voice for them as do the children, who being just that, children, do nonetheless have adults out there who can help them. How many of our veterans are out in the cold literally and figuratively because society has turned its backs on them?
I think the fact that the youth commissioner has to wage a political battle every year to keep his job speaks volumes. He is the epitome of a political hack.
Here we go again. What would budget season be without Kevin Lee's political campaign to save a job that is already being done through the Schools?
If you listened to the by-law opponents argument against it..it was based on free trade policy.
As for veterans being against it...I saw people who were veterans that were for it too.
I think, like I said,,,it has to do with an ideology.
Why should the Flag that represents our FREEDOMS be made in a COUNTRY(China). All the while refusing to allow their people to have the same rights that our Flag represents
Our flag represents Freedom of Speech,press and religion...China doesn't allow that in their country...but yet we buy our flags that are made there...It doesn't make sense.
The veterans and other opponants are Ideologues and have a predisposition that blinds them from commonsense
The arguement by Greg Lynam and others if I recall was due to free trade.
The problem is those who were opposed, are what I call free trade ideologues.
Even something as simple as having American made flags was too much for them to grasp.
Why would we want to buy, as a town American flags made in another country(china). A country that refuses their citizens the very rights our flag represents.
The by-law doesn't infringe on private industry or your own home...it just states simply ..Dartmouth is going to buy American Made flags...pretty simple.
But ideologues like the "free traders" we have in our leadership in town are blinded by that ideology and I say...take the blinders off.
Veteran's agent is mandated,not so for youth advocate. Apples and oranges, nice try though.
I have a hard time believing a majority of the taxpayers support NOT providing public assistance for troubled youth, the disabled, veterans, or senior citizens. The real question is, how much can the town afford to help? All of htese areas can also be supported, at least in part, by voluntary contributions. Why not structure our tax payments to the town so that they allow for additionial designated contributions to each of these areas? I hate to put it in these terms, but it would be "putting your money where your mouth is". Personally, in years where I could afford it, I would have no problem paying some additional voluntary "taxes". I already do that to an extent with contributions to other organizations. Do you?
The Youth Commissioner position is a legal liability to this town. The pleas from students stating who do you call at 2am if you want to harm yourself, you call 911. Is out town covered for his actions 24 hours. I would like someone to look into that. When this position was formed over 30 years ago the resources people have today were not available. Town meeting missed the point on that case and yes the town cronies and political hacks did speak.
The Youth Commissioner is a legal liability. Who do you call at 2AM if you feel like harming yourself? you call 911. The political hacks and cronies were in full force at that town meeting.
The town would be able to help a lot more if it weren't always giving to the school every time the school thought it should do something to help the parents and asked the town for the money to do it.
Who do you think is getting short-changed here? Our veterans and the elderly, for starters.
I hope someone gets elected to the Select Board that has the guts to stand up to the all-hands-out-for-the-money school. (I doubt that would be Shawn McDonald, folks.) It's time someone stood up for everyone else in the town. I guess the Select Board members forget they are supposed to spend our money for the well-being of all of us. It's very one-sided, has been for a long time, and is getting worse. You get the money from fees; you give some or all of it back, depending on the fee; you ask the town to reimburse you for the money you gave away (with the blessing of the Select Board, of course.) Unbelievable.
Response to: hate to put it in these terms, but it would be "putting your money where your mouth is". Personally, in years where I could afford it, I would have no problem paying some additional voluntary "taxes". I already do that to an extent with contributions to other organizations. Do you?
Yeah...its called an override
What the Select Board does for the school is called enabling. Enabling does not teach responsibility. Giving and giving to the school while draining the town's residents dry is irresponsible on the part of the Select Board.
It is just a matter of the school's waiting until it can beat down the Select Board, if necessary, and then drop a guilt trip on the residents.
Let's be realistic. Not everyone is in the position financially to give and give and yet that is what has been expected of us and will no doubt be so again. I would think others are tired of being taken for money all the time.
The children are just one segment of our population. Like the poster above said, assistance needs to be given to some of these troubled children, the disabled, the elderly, and the veterans.
Is care and assistance given to each equally? I doubt it.
to 9:11
Specifically, the money I donate voluntarily goes to the United Fund and other organizations that support local services for those in need. I hope you do the same. Yes, I am paying for some overrides like other property owners in town, too. My point is, I can choose to donate where I prefer and when I can afford to. Can't we do something similar for the town?
Yes, we are right back to the youth advocate position. Last year at town meeting I recall a gentleman, I believe it was Mr. Travis, getting up in support of maintaining this position. I cannot remember his exact words but the impression I got from him was that he was going to make it his goal to obtain grants or other funds to cover this expense in the future. What happened? As far as I know there are no grants. It was yet another emotional plea to save this position by making false promises.
Kevin Lee was a political football for the likes of the Gilbert "Guild". Luckily she is out the door.
The town has had that position for 60 some odd years...now the newbies come to town and want to change every d@mn thing.
Pretty soon the school dept will have to give up SPORTS and Music becausr they can get that from non-profits. Why should your tax dollars go for kids like JT...who got a scholarship to go to college.
People on here are just anti government and anti tax until it comes to them...they want their pensions and perks...like the VA or a teacher's pension for their wives. All the while railing against what others get paid.
Time to put up or shut up...if you dont want people to have government provided bennies...GIVE YOURS UP FIRST!
I am informed that Mike Travers has been working diligently to secure the grants and private money through fundraising to keep this position in place.
Well, be prepared for more emotional pleading if there's a cut to the position. Advocates of personal agendas are quite skillful in eliciting sympathy from others, and we certainly have seen our share of them. Remember the paralegal at the June Town Meeting, pleading for her $70,000+ salary that FinCom had reduced to $60,000+? That was a tangled financial mess. Then there was the YA pleading for his job and passing out handouts before Town Meeting itself on why he should be retained on the payroll.
There's lots of ways to tug at the heartstrings, manipulate, and persuade people and lots of people have the knack. Unfortunately, there's even more that fall for it all and a lot of them, are Town Meeting members.
The town police officers respond to all calls involving threats of suicide. All P.O. are trained for such situations/concerns and they are required by law to take all proper action and make all available contacts of help. The youth advocate is not on the police department list.... all/any call of this type is continued through out the day/night 24/7 365 days per year. All person(s) shall be taken for treatment at the required facilities within the greater New Bedford locations.
How did this discussion about our form of government degenerate into a sideshow discussion of the Youth Advocate? Unless I've missed the discussion, the Select Board and the Finance Committee haven't been talking about abolishing that job, at least not recently. Have they?
Where is the extra money the school is asking for to make up the remainder of the FDK money it needs going to come from? I suppose we have to have an override for it? There have to be
cuts - - from the town budget, where else? What else is new.
"People help those who help themselves."
How much has the school helped itself except for asking for eliminated and reduced fees to help the parents, thereby giving away its money and asking the town to reimburse it for its irresponsible actions. Then the school makes a big deal of its "contribution" to the town - -its turnback money which it promptly wants back. That it considers its share of cutbacks to help fund FDK.
Guess it's never going to change if this is the mindset of the school. We need strong leaders to reign in this arrogant, irresponsible, you-owe-us/the kids attitude.
I vote for Town Meeting. It may have its flaws, but But Mayors and Town Councils are certainly no better.
Short memories in this Town! It was the Select Board who eliminated the busing fees as it comes under their jurisdiction as a Town expense. The sports and activities fees were halved at the request of the Fin Com. Neither of the acts were put forth by the School Committee.
WOW! your contempt for the kids is dispicable. Either you do not have any kids or your kids are grown...typical.
The "I got mine" attitude by the anti-school anti government group is rampant in this town...
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