Potential Town Charter changes, a clean sweep?

The Select Board has been discussing the appointment of a Charter Committee to review potential changes to the charter. While we have been debating whether the commission should have power to change the form of government from Select Board-Town Meeting to some other form, I think there is plenty of opportunity for making real reforms within the current Town Meeting form. I would like to see drastic and sweeping changes made to the structure and operation of our town departments in order to reduce the number of departments and to provide greater accountability for those departments.

In all my spare time :^), I have been reading MGL chapter 43C which provides for consolidated municipal departments. Of particular interest are sections 11, 12 and 13 of that chapter.

We already have a structure in the finance side similar to that set out in 43C, section 11. I am satisfied with the current arrangement there.
(more after the jump)

Section 12 is a Community Development department which could include "the redevelopment authority, the planning board, the industrial development commission, industrial development financing authority or any other municipal office or agency exercising or authorized to exercise any community or economic development activities." I would add the ZBA, Agriculture Commission, Agricultural Trust Council, Community Preservation Committee, and probably some others.

Section 13 is Inspections which could include "the inspections currently being made by the building inspector, wire inspector, plumbing inspector, gas fitting inspector, health agent and others as the ordinance or by-law may specify.” It provides for a single application for "all inspections which might be necessary, including, but need not be limited to, any inspections under the zoning and other local ordinance or by-law, building code, wire code, plumbing and gas code, state sanitary code, board of health rules and regulations, fire code, conservation commission, historic districts commission and any other local inspections as may be otherwise authorized." I would include Animal Control and Natural Resources here as well.

I would add, to the three departments listed above, a Department of Public Infrastructure that would be responsible for all public works, all public buildings, parks, waterways, vehicles and equipment, and any other real asset of the town. I mean to include all public buildings (libraries, Town Hall, police station, COA, all buildings) along with anything that has wheels and moves.

I would also add a Public Services department which would include the Library, Council on Aging, Veteran's Agent, Town Clerk, and Youth Commission.

That would leave the town with the Office of the Select Board and seven departments; Budget and Finance, School, Police, Economic Development, Inspections, Public Infrastructure, and Public Services. All current town employees would be allocated to one of these seven departments. Like I said, sweeping change!

I am not sure what to do with the Alternative Energy committee, Refuse District Committee, DCTV, computer services, and some other committees and commissions. Perhaps they would fall under the Office of the Select Board or fit into one of the other departments. I have not really come up with a good idea there.

Mr. Cressman has also been tasked with developing a plan for restructuring the town departments. I do not start this thread in order to steal any thunder from his effort. I am interested in what others may think of this plan of mine or what plan others might have that is entirely different. I find that writing a post helps to solidify and clarify my thoughts and some of the comments are quite perspicacious and helpful as well.

There are plenty of oxen gored in this post, so "Lay on, McDuff!" as the Bard of Avon once wrote.
What do you think? Tell us in comments.