Interesting point of view. So this is primarily about transparency. Thanks. Anne Warner
On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 1:53 PM ٍSarah Postlethwait <[email protected]> wrote: > It is not a petition driven by “an individual who wanted to be appointed > but was not”, but rather by a large group of residents (myself included) > who are concerned with the lack of financial oversight in this town. > > I simply ask- *how many people have any idea that two fincom seats were > vacant in March? And an additional seat was up for reappointment? * > > Very likely 99% of residents had no idea, and thus they had no chance to > even apply for these open seats so the most qualified candidates could be > chosen. > > Having the Select Board make appointments doesn’t guarantee anyone a seat > on the Finance Committee, but it significantly increases the likelihood of > an open, transparent selection process- leading to a committee that is more > representative of the town as a whole. > > Sarah Postlethwait > > > > On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM Anne Warner <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Yes, that was my impression. The majority of similarly sized towns have >> the Moderator appoint the FinCom. I have received several one-on-one >> replies, one of which has a thought which is correct in my mind: “….keeping >> the appt separate from the select board provides some separation of powers >> similar to exec and legislative branch.” I’ve also learned that it is not >> the Select Board that initiated this change, but it was by petition, >> driven, allegedly, by an individual who wanted to be appointed but was not, >> and also that most people did not know who appointed this committee. I have >> no idea if this is true (would whoever initiated the petition please step >> forward and confirm or deny?) but based on this information, I think we >> should vote against this. Anne Warner >> - Sent from iPhone. Typed by thumb. Excuse misspellings! >> >> On Jun 8, 2025, at 12:50 PM, Margaret Olson <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> 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]> >> 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]. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [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. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [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. >> >> -- Anne Taubes Warner [email protected]
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