Margaret, AI can be unreliable. One needs to go back to the source documents. Carlisle is one of the towns that we looked at. According to the Carlisle official town website, the Select Board chooses FinCom, not the Moderator as cited in your table. The table may contain outdated information. See https://carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee. We haven't looked at the other towns in your table. Regards, Bob Finance Committee | Carlisle, MA<https://carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee> The Finance Committee was established under Article 17 of the warrant for the annual town meeting held February 13, 1933, and further amended under Article 19 of the warrant for the annual town meeting held March 10, 1969. 3.9.2 There shall be a Finance Committee which shall consider all fiscal questions and may consider municipal questions at their discretion for the purpose of making reports ... carlislema.gov
________________________________ From: Margaret Olson <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 8, 2025 12:49 PM To: Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> Cc: Lincoln Talk <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Citizens' Petition at the Special Town Meeting: Finance Committee Appointments I asked Claude, an AI, how the Massachusetts towns close in size to Lincoln select their Finance Committee members. Towns Close in Size to Lincoln (population 6,996 based on the 2024 census<https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lincolntownmiddlesexcountymassachusetts/PST045224>) Finance Committee Selection Methods Town Population Finance Committee Selection Method Shirley ~6,851 Appointed by Town Moderator Berkley ~6,822 Appointed by Select Board Harvard ~6,900 Appointed by Town Moderator Berlin ~6,700 Appointed by Town Moderator Boylston ~7,100 Appointed by Town Moderator Sherborn ~7,400 Appointed by Town Moderator Stow ~7,200 Appointed by Town Moderator Dunstable ~7,200 Appointed by Select Board Boxford ~7,800 Appointed by Town Moderator Mendon ~6,100 Appointed by Select Board Bolton ~5,800 Appointed by Town Moderator Boxborough ~6,000 Appointed by Town Moderator Carlisle ~5,900 Appointed by Town Moderator Dover ~6,200 Appointed by Town Moderator Hamilton ~7,600 Appointed by Town Moderator Plympton ~6,300 Elected by Town Meeting Petersham ~6,500 Appointed by Town Moderator Hardwick ~6,400 Appointed by Select Board Ayer ~8,100 Appointed by Town Moderator Norwell ~7,900 Appointed by Town Moderator Westford ~8,200 Appointed by Town Moderator Lancaster ~8,100 Appointed by Town Moderator Margaret On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM Robert Domnitz <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Several weeks ago, 130 residents signed a Citizens' Petition asking that our Special Town Meeting consider an amendment to the General Bylaws of the Town. If adopted, the amendment would grant authority to the Select Board to appoint the members of the Town's Finance Committee. That authority is currently held by the Town Moderator. The Finance Committee (FinCom) is one of Lincoln's most important volunteer committees. Its work is complex and its analysis and recommendations have a decisive impact on town operations and residents' taxes. Despite its importance, FinCom receives limited direct engagement from residents. As signatures were gathered for the Petition, the vast majority of residents said they did not know how the members of FinCom were chosen. They thought that the Moderator's role was limited to presiding over Town Meeting. No one could recall a contested election for the position of Moderator, and no one could recall that a Moderator had ever expressed a viewpoint on Town finances or FinCom appointments. The disconnect between FinCom and residents has been compounded by the current practice of relying on FinCom to screen potential candidates for membership. Vacant positions have not been advertised, and public interviews have not been held. If endorsed by Town Meeting, the Citizens' Petition will make the Select Board the appointing authority for FinCom. Residents look to the Select Board for overall management of the Town. It seems natural that they ought to be the authority that appoints FinCom. The Town usually has a contested race for Select Board, and candidates differentiate themselves based on their views and policy preferences. That process helps align our Select Board with residents. Adoption of this amendment will empower the Select Board to solicit and publicly interview volunteers for FinCom, following the same public process they use for other committees that they appoint. Appointment by the Select Board will therefore create a clear link between residents and FinCom. Although many Massachusetts towns continue the tradition of a moderator-appointed finance committee, the trend is toward other methods of appointment. A substantial minority of towns now rely on appointment by Select Boards, direct election by residents, or appointment by a committee composed of various town officials. By considering this amendment, the Town has an opportunity to strengthen transparency, accountability, and resident engagement in a vital part of our local government. Embracing best practices that encourage diverse perspectives and open public participation will not only enhance the Finance Committee’s effectiveness but also foster greater trust and collaboration within our community. Together, we can ensure that Lincoln’s financial decisions reflect the voices and values of all its residents, building a stronger, more inclusive future for our Town. Bob Domnitz, on behalf of the Petitioners -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
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