Last week, the Board of Selectmen tabled re-appointments of members to Town committees whose terms expire this month. The decision was made after two selectmen asked to hear from individuals or committees on their objectives or roles. Those discussions are scheduled for next Tuesday.
Selectman Dan Kolenda was against making blanket approvals on re-appointments without hearing from some individuals. He wanted to hear from volunteers whose boards have significant authority: the Zoning Board of Appeals, Open Space Preservation Commission, and Historical Commission.
Selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf suggested that rather than individuals, they should be looking at whether specific committees should continue. Open Space was also on her list.
The following night, Zoning Board of Appeals voted to recommend filling a new, unadvertised vacancy by moving up the senior alternate member to full time. If approved, the Town would then advertise a vacancy for the alternate seat.
On Tuesday, the BOS discussion on reappointments opened with Kolenda wondering if they should look into shortening five year terms to three or less. He then revisited his comments from last year, wishing there was a larger candidate pool. Before reappointing members to significant boards, he wanted to hear:
Did they share the same concerns of this board? Are their concerns or perspectives maybe different from this boards, which is also okay? . . . I think we owe it to the public to have that discussion
Phaneuf said she shared some of his concerns. But she wanted to focus on committees rather than individuals. She wondered if some department heads were serving too many committees.
She used what would be a committee of one as an example: the Green Technology Committee. She wondered why the work couldn’t be covered by the Public Works head and the Public Works Planning Board. Then, acknowledging she might be criticized, she questioned the purpose of the Open Space Preservation Commission:
I know they are working with the Planning Board. To me, that’s a Planning issue. . . When do we decide that everyone is starting to trip over everyone?
I’d really like to hear from Open Space. Not because of a reappointment, but what is the collaborative between the Planning Board to come up with a number or what we are trying to achieve?
In April, Chair John Rooney said that it may make sense to vet some committee members at reappointment time, especially in regards to the Public Safety Building project. On Tuesday, he offered no opinion on the issues. Instead, he asked members to submit their lists of individuals and committees they would like to bring in for questioning to Town Administrator Mark Purple. Purple was charged with requesting those members/committees to attend the next BOS meeting, next Tuesday, June 28.
On Wednesday, Bartolini informed fellow members that Co-Chair Thomas Bhistikul resigned. (Bhistikul is reportedly moving out of town.) The board voted to have member Andrew Dennington take over as Co-Chair and recommend appointment of alteranate Jeff Walker to the vacant seat.
The move is in keeping with the ZBA’s traditional practice. In the past, Chair Leo Bartolini justified to selectmen that alternates’ experience on the board make them the best candidates to fill a full time vacancy.
Walker’s term was already set to expire June 30th. So, Walker was likely already to be included on Kolenda’s list of individuals to address the BOS next week.
Click here for the list of committee members seeking reappointment by June 30th for their next term.
Even if all members requesting re-appointment are approved, there are several vacancies on Town Committees. If you are interested in applying for a spot, click here.
