Updated, non-AI list: *Town*
*FinCom selection* *Web site* *Shirley* Town Moderator *https://www.shirley-ma.gov/322/Finance-Committee* <https://www.shirley-ma.gov/322/Finance-Committee> *Berkley* Hybrid *https://www.townofberkleyma.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif2806/f/pages/general_by_laws_revised_nov_2024.pdf* <https://www.townofberkleyma.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif2806/f/pages/general_by_laws_revised_nov_2024.pdf> *Harvard* Town Moderator *https://www.harvard-ma.gov/finance-committee* <https://www.harvard-ma.gov/finance-committee> *Berlin* Town Moderator *https://www.townofberlin.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif4156/f/uploads/town-by-laws-_2021_sep_9_updt2.pdf* <https://www.townofberlin.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif4156/f/uploads/town-by-laws-_2021_sep_9_updt2.pdf> *Boylston* Town Moderator *https://www.harvard-ma.gov/finance-committee* <https://www.harvard-ma.gov/finance-committee> *Sherborn* Town Moderator *https://www.sherbornma.org/DocumentCenter/View/345/2023-General-Bylaws-PDF?bidId=* <https://www.sherbornma.org/DocumentCenter/View/345/2023-General-Bylaws-PDF?bidId=> *Stow* Town Moderator *https://www.stow-ma.gov/finance-committee* <https://www.stow-ma.gov/finance-committee> *Dunstable* Elected *https://dunstable-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4361/f/uploads/general_bylaws_of_the_town_of_dunstable_2023_4.pdf* <https://dunstable-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4361/f/uploads/general_bylaws_of_the_town_of_dunstable_2023_4.pdf> *Boxford* Select Board *https://ecode360.com/10133221* <https://ecode360.com/10133221> *Mendon* Select Board *https://www.mendonma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif881/f/file/file/6.4.18_updated_boards_and_committees_appointments_policy_and_procedures.pdf* <https://www.mendonma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif881/f/file/file/6.4.18_updated_boards_and_committees_appointments_policy_and_procedures.pdf> *Bolton* Hybrid *https://ecode360.com/14849846* <https://ecode360.com/14849846> *Boxborough* Town Moderator *https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/334/Finance-Committee* <https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/334/Finance-Committee> *Carlisle* Select Board *https://www.carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee* <https://www.carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee> *Dover* Select Board *https://www.doverma.gov/290/Capital-Budget-Committee* <https://www.doverma.gov/290/Capital-Budget-Committee> *Hamilton* Town Moderator *https://www.hamiltonma.gov/government/finance-advisory-committee/* <https://www.hamiltonma.gov/government/finance-advisory-committee/> *Plympton* Elected *https://www.town.plympton.ma.us/finance-committee* <https://www.town.plympton.ma.us/finance-committee> *Petersham* Town Moderator *https://townofpetersham.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/5/3/27531945/by-laws_2017.pdf* <https://townofpetersham.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/5/3/27531945/by-laws_2017.pdf> *Hardwick* Town Moderator *https://townofpetersham.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/5/3/27531945/by-laws_2017.pdf* <https://townofpetersham.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/5/3/27531945/by-laws_2017.pdf> *Ayer* Town Moderator *https://www.ayer.ma.us/home/news/finance-committee-vacancy-0* <https://www.ayer.ma.us/home/news/finance-committee-vacancy-0> *Norwell* Hybrid *https://www.townofnorwell.net/advisory-board* <https://www.townofnorwell.net/advisory-board> *Westford* Town Moderator *https://westfordma.gov/387/Finance-Committee* <https://westfordma.gov/387/Finance-Committee> *Lancaster* Elected *https://ecode360.com/11812815#11812816* <https://ecode360.com/11812815#11812816> On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> wrote: > 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]> > 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. > >
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