|In my opinion, Colleen Strickler|
I signed the petition to create a town Charter. I was concerned by some of the decisions that the Select Board had been making at the time, and I am someone who likes to have the “rules” clearly defined. Having a document that outlines how the town is to be run is a good thing in my mind.
Then the Commission was formed and discussions started and, ultimately, the final report came out. It is not drafted as I would have, but it does provide documentation of how the town is to be run, and it does allow for the taxpayer to hold those in leadership accountable.
As I understand it, if we don’t pass this charter, we would need to start the process all over again, from collecting signatures, to electing a commission, to drafting a Charter. I’m not sure that there is an appetite for that in town. So if our option is to have no charter where each Select Board can make their own rules, and the rules aren’t documented, or approve this Charter, flawed as it may be… I would vote to approve the Charter.
The charter reads in part, “Amending the Charter requires notice and a hearing and then ballot vote but does not require forming a charter commission.” So I propose that we pass the Charter, and then work to amend it where we can.
For example, Article IX Section 9.1 Part c.Eligibility. A board or committee member must be a resident of New Gloucester, at least 18 years old, and a U.S. citizen. I find that to be unnecessarily limiting. I would propose that anyone who is living here legally as a resident in the town, and is willing to participate in the running of the town, ought to be considered. We as a town are better off when we have more participation rather than less.
Another example of something that I would advocate for is amending “No more than two immediate family members on a board.” I would advocate for having only one family member per board, unless there is nobody else willing to participate.
And finally, I am concerned about the potential for the Select Board to be taking responsibility away from the Town Manager. While I think that they need to work together, the Select Board is a group of people who come and go over time. Town Managers, if we hire them correctly, have education and experience in running a town that our Select Board doesn’t have. I am concerned that we will have a revolving door of Town Managers if the position is hindered by a domineering Select board.
In my work I practice continuous improvement, where incremental change is the best way to get to the desired outcome. I will be voting to approve the Charter, but I will be looking for ways to amend it to make it better.
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