Government Spotlight Suggestion Box

Suggestion Box: Boards & Committees

The Charter Commission will focus on boards and committees at their next meeting on December 13th.

New Gloucester has a number of town boards and committees, from the elected select board to a number of appointed boards and committees (see the list on the town website.)

Some of groups are required by and must follow state statutes (like the planning board). Others are established by the select board to address particular areas of importance to the town.

As the Charter Commission drafts a section on boards and committees, they must consider several questions, among them:

For all boards and committees:
• What should the role and responsibilities of members be?
• Should there be term limits (approved by voters for select board members a few years ago)?
• Should members of the same immediate family be allowed to serve on the same committee at the same time?
• Should there be a code of ethics for all board and committee members?

For the select board/town council:
• How many members should there be?
• How should they be elected: at large, by districts, by some combination?
• Should the chair be elected by voters or by fellow members?
• Should there be a provision for recalling a member (approved by voters a few years ago)?
• Should the board/council have emergency powers, such as to enact ordinances in a public health emergency?
• Should board/council liaisons to boards and committees be ex officio (non-voting/ advisory) or voting members?

For other boards and committees:
• What Standing Committees should the town have?
• Should there be a limit on the number of boards and committees a citizen can serve on at one time?
• Should some or all seats on certain boards or committees be elected directly by voters rather than appointed by the select board as now? If so, which boards or committees should have elected seats?
• Does every committee need to have a liaison from the select board/council?
• Who should be voting members of each committee? Should any board/council liaisons be ex officio (advisory, non-voting)?
• What is the size and composition of each board and committee?
• What should be the public participation policy for committees? Should it be different from that for select board meetings?
• What is an ad hoc committee?
• What should the process be for creating or dissolving a committee?
• What should the criteria and process be for appointments?
• Should written meeting minutes be required of all boards and committees and published on the town web site?
• What is a workshop? How is that different from a meeting?

What do you think?
You may have additional questions! You can send your input to the Charter Commission directly via email at ngchartercommission@gmail.com, or via the NGX suggestion box.

Comments submitted to the Charter Commission become part of their public record.

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