This is all about transparency. The appointment process is an internal process and why there are discrepancies and oversight is hard to come by. We the taxpayers have mistakenly been paying half a million dollars for years for the Hanscom School because of the lack of oversight with fincom. It only got noticed because of one Lincoln residents observation. And even after it was pointed out and confirmed the school committee, the town Administration and the select board did nothing to stop it and the fact the resident relentlessly pursued it, they finally did something about it. Mickey Mouse. With lack of transparency and oversight, we are severely overtaxed and over budgeted and are the highest per capita taxed town in massachusetts. This has to stop.
Kind Regards, Scott Clary 617-968-5769 Oak Knoll Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors On Sun, Jun 8, 2025, 3:25 PM Anne Warner <[email protected]> wrote: > 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] > -- > 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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