Monday's Musings

No matter what the outcome on the hosts of matters which will be debated at the STM in February and the Annual Town Meeting and STM in May, there will still be a Town of Fairhaven.

Can't say exactly how that Town will be, but it will in fact be there.  

If the term limit proposal passes both Town Meeting and legal review, come April of 2013 we will have a total of one year experience on the Board of Selectmen, one year experience or none on the Board of Health and School Committee (depending on this year's elections), little or no experience on the Planning Board, a new Town Clerk and possibly a new Tree Warden (again depending on this year's election) and limited experience on the BPW.

Some of you out there may be saying, well that's not necessarily a bad thing.  There is appeal to new blood.    As I have said before, I am supportive of the term limit concept.  But for all "town officials", not so sure on that.  

We could even have entirely new members on the Conservation Committee and Board of Appeals if those become elected boards as is being sought.

It would certainly make life interesting. 

There is a certain appeal to being able to watch how this would all play out.  To watch just how some will carry out their official duties.  To watch all the new faces who will run for all these new offices.

There would also no doubt be a substantial change in appointed personnel and on appointed Boards and Committees.

All new faces, fresh ideas and plans.

If the recall provision passes, I think you will see quite a few of them over the next several years.

We may even end up with our own town ethics committee, duly elected to establish a town code of ethics and with the power determine who has crossed that line.  

Can you imagine the scrutiny whoever decides to run for this position will have to go through?

Anyhow, a week from today, the ballot will pretty much be established; and then each and every candidate is going to need to get to work in earnest.  Each and every candidate is going to be facing a public that is going to be looking for answers.

Certainly every candidate for selectmen should be asked to answer what his position is on the proposed articles.  As far as the other positions involved, wouldn't hurt to hear them weigh in either.

Some time next week, assuming I can remember at my advanced age, I am going to do a detailed post on the ethics article being proposed for the Annual Town Meeting. There is a reason I am waiting until next week, one that I will wait to then to give to you.  

That article, the fact that it was proposed, deserves some significant discussion though.  Until later on that one.