A Tale of Two Towns, eventually

First, can everybody out there please stop the complaints about Town Meeting attendance.

It is a given that the attendance level was low. It is a given that the mass exodus after lunch was, being as diplomatic as possible, less than a desirable event. 

We can argue what ifs until the proverbial cows come home. Simple fact of the matter is those in attendance voted, and those in attendance are the only votes that count. 

Now if you aren't an elected member, or an at large member, I can understand your griping to a certain extent. Especially since for this year's election of members and for most years, it wasn't like you had a whole heck of a lot of choice in electing members.  I will completely ignore the fact you too could have probably been there if you decided to serve, but ... I understand not everyone feels the need, desire or capable.  

So those who aren't members, certainly have the valid complaint about their elected representatives.

Those who are elected, and who weren't there, well I do imagine some had extremely valid reasons.  Some, not all, not even half if one uses the normal assumptions on attendance at any event.  

As far as competing obligations, keep in mind running for town meeting is a decision you make.  If you don't know the when, that would only be valid for real "specials".  The Annual Town Meeting and the annual Special Town Meeting within the annual, has been, was last week, and unless changed will continue to be the first Saturday, in May.  On rare occasions it has been delayed yes. 

However when you decide to run, you have said to the voters I will represent you at the Town Meeting; not I will be there for you unless something else comes up.

Folks, attendance both at the start and the dwindling numbers at the finish, make it extremely hard to form any compelling justification against some of the ideas being bandied about out there.

Anyway ...

Hanover and Fairhaven.  Yes indeed Hanover, a town that has a smaller but what I would consider comparable population and a very similar spending budget, has an elected advisory Board of Public Works. 

Not quite the same though as the elected board that will be subject to a town wide vote here in Fairhaven, but yes an advisory board nonetheless. An elected board designed under a strong Town Manager Act.  A pretty strong Town Manager act, for the entire town. 

In its entirety Hanover has an extremely well written act. Tight and concise.  An act that replaced the Town Administrator concept.

So yep, there is another community with an elected advisory board. Section 7 under the act passed by that community if you go to the link.  We did it a little different, as we always seem to do.

Our combined acts are what they are. What the same aren't though is Hanover's. Not close.