This and That

We are a week into what is unofficially known as the "silly season", i.e. town elections.  I attended at meeting yesterday afternoon at Town Hall and stopped in the Town Clerk's office top check the green book.  There are three candidates who have pulled papers now for two spots on the school committee (incumbents Bernie Roderick and Stacie Powers, along with Dianne Hahn, two candidates for the selectman's seat (incumbent Brian Bowcock and Geoff Haworth). 

So as of yesterday, two offices with contested races.  Of course there is still plenty of time for people to pull papers.  I just thought there would be more early interest this year.  To show you how slow it is, only one person in all six precincts pulled papers for Town Meeting member.  Grant you, incumbents have the option of simply signing the standard form to be placed on the ballot without having to pull papers.  Still just one T.M. candidate?

I don't know, maybe it is a bit of burnout.  Let's face it, last year was an extremely long one for politics,  We started the year with the "silly season", which never ended given the national election and statewide races.  

But like I said, it is still early.

I know it is only January, but the May town meeting should be on people's minds, at least certainly every town meeting member.  In addition to the wind turbine siting article, there should be several significant articles to be voted on.

If one assumes the selectmen are behind the concept of a strong town administrator, and I have heard each of them say they are, than hopefully we will see some significant movement toward formulating an appropriate article for submission to town meeting.  If this happens, then one must also assume there will be several other articles submitted which would be necessary to make the concept work.

Someone asked a very good question yesterday:  is there some reference for people to look at relative to what a strong town manager form of government would look like.

As I believe I noted previously, in the end it is up to the individual community to decide the ultimate powers, duties and functions.  There is no hard and fast requirement.

My suggestion, as a starting point of reference is for people to look at the charters/special legislation of several different communities with a town manager.  A good starting point in my mind is the Town of Plymouth Charter.

I am not advocating that Fairhaven simply adopt that charter word for word.  What I do believe however is that the use of that charter as a basis for developing a form of new governmental structure would be a good boilerplate to start with.

This is not going to be easy for some to accept.  Change never is.  What we have in place has for the most part served the town well for many years, but I think many people realize some change is needed.  As radical as the town manager concept sounds, it isn't the equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 

Some twenty-five years ago, the town came to the realization that the necessities of the day to day operations required change.  At the time it was considered radical by some.  It was resisted, but it happened.

We see the cracks in the foundation presently though.  Too many decisions on matters have to revolve through multiple boards and committees before decisions can be made.  You see delays of weeks or even months, and worse yet at times nothing being done.

Where there should be town wide policies, you essentially end up with suggested procedures.  Where quick action is needed, you see repeated hearings.

I know I am repeating myself.

Probably as food a time as any to stop today.

Take care and be safe.