Yes. And our credit rating would remain Triple-A with less than half the amount of over taxing and reserves taxpayers have been subjected to for years. Please analyze the details.
Kind Regards, Scott Clary 617-968-5769 Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors On Sun, Jun 8, 2025, 9:55 PM Anne Warner <[email protected]> wrote: > No, but credit ratings are closely related to how the Finance Committee > performs over time. To have e collect credit ratings, a town must have > excellent financial oversight, which means the selection needs to result in > excellent selections. Anne W > - Sent from iPhone. Typed by thumb. Excuse misspellings! > > On Jun 8, 2025, at 9:16 PM, Scott Clary <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Credit ratings have nothing to do with how Financial committee members are > appointed. > > Kind Regards, > > Scott Clary > 617-968-5769 > > Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors > > On Sun, Jun 8, 2025, 8:57 PM Louis Zipes <[email protected]> wrote: > >> One comment I would make is that Bob wrote in support the of the >> citizen's petition that 'The Town *usually* has a contested race for >> Select Board, and candidates differentiate themselves based on their views >> and policy preferences' >> >> Actually, if I'm reading this history of Select Board races (see link >> below) over the last 20 years, that were actually contested, then a better >> word would be *rarely. * >> >> https://www.lincolntown.org/501/Election-Result-History >> >> Also, note that Carlisle, which the petitioners mentioned as an example >> of where the Finance Committee is chosen by the Select board, actually has >> a lower bond rating than Lincoln. Admittedly different rating agencies but >> I believe that AA1 is lower than AA+ in S&P's rating whereas Lincoln has >> been AAA, the highest, in Moody's ratings since 2009. Carlisle has not been >> able to crack that top rating nut according to this link: >> >> >> https://dls-gw.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdpage.aspx?rdreport=dls_bond_ratings >> (Choose >> the different rating agencies to see Carlisle versus Lincoln) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> 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. >>> >>> -- >>> 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. > >
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