Conference 7.286::maynard

    Frank,  I am a member of the planning board and under the new charter
    the planing board is appointed.  Will I have to be re-appointed or do I
    run out my term?

>    Frank,  I am a member of the planning board and under the new charter
>    the planing board is appointed.  Will I have to be re-appointed or do I
>    run out my term?
    
    The important thing is that you'll have to be _really_ nice to the
    Selectmen.  Maybe, say "your honor", or "your excellency".  Compliment
    their clothes.  Buy some furniture.  (Just kidding, Toni.)
    
    -Steve

    RE -1:  All elected officials who are now serving on "appointed"
    Boards WILL serve out the terms for which they were elected.  When
    their terms expire, they will be subject to appointment by the
    appointing authority.    
    
    If an elected official leaves office prior to the expiration of his
    or her term, the replacement is appointed.
    
    What it means is that you have been legally elected to hold an office,
    and you keep the right to serve out your term.  The Charter cannot
    cancel a legally elected position.   However, there be no further
    elections for these positions.
    
    As I mentioned elsewhere, the fact that there was no election for the
    vacant seat on the Planning Board means that the position is vacant
    and subject to appointment by the Selectmen.
    
    Article 8 of the Charter contains all the details on the transition
    from the former "non-Charter" government to the "new" Maynard 
    government system (gee that sounds nice!).
    
    
    Frank
    

    The Maynard Charter will take many months, and perhaps years to
    fully implement.  This was intentional, so as not to throw the
    Town into chaos after approval.  Untangling 120 years of town
    government will be gradual.
    
    Here are some important first steps to look for:
    
    1.  At Town Meeting, the Moderator will appoint a deputy Moderator.
    One of the important aspects of the Charter is that it documents
    some prodedures that have never been formalized in our Town.
    
    2.  At Town Meeting, every Town Officer, Chairperson of each multiple
    member body, and every Department Head shall attend all sessions of
    Town Meeting.  Again, this has never been written down before.
    
    3.  Another thing that has never been documented before is "what
    happens if the Moderator (for whatever reason) cannot attend the
    Town Meeting?"  The Charter says the Town Clerk opens the Meeting
    and presides until the Town Meeting selects a temporary Moderator.
    
    4.  The Moderator will be very busy from now until the completion of
    Town Meeting.  However, he will be selecting two very important 
    Committees:
    
    	A.  A Special By-Law Committee to re-write the Town's By-Laws to
    bring them into conformance with the Charter.  The Charter is the
    skeleton of Town Government and the By-Laws are the fleshing-out
    of the skeleton.  We wrote many provisions of the Charter with the
    flexibility to be adjusted by By-Laws.  Things like dates of Town
    Meetings and Elections, Budget process dates, and the Administrative
    Organization can and likely will be changed from time to time.  By-
    Laws are submitted to Town Meeting for approval and do not require
    any State interference.  This Special By-Law Committee will consist
    of seven citizens, two of which must have been members of the Charter
    Commission.  The Committee will report back at next year's Town Meeting
    with their recommended By-Law changes/additions.  Until then, if a
    present By-Law conflicts with the Charter, and I can't think of any
    offhand, the Charter prevails.
    
    	B.  The Moderator will also create a Special Committee to write
    a Code of Ethics for all Town Employees and Town Officials.  This 
    Committee will consist of one Town Employee, one elected Official,
    and one appointed Official, and four voters from the Town at large.
    This Committee will report back to Town Meeting next year with
    a recommended Code of Ethics for approval.  The Code of Ethics
    will become a By-Law.
    
    The Moderator will continue to select the members of Finance Committee,
    as in the past.  Note that we are always in need of Finance Committee
    members.
    
    Frank

    Of the 2000 people who attended the "Woodstock" Town Meeting,
    I would venture to guess that about 500 were attending their
    first Town Meeting.  Of this number, I hope that 20%, or 100
    residents, will stay involved in Town Government after the 
    painful experience of the "R" word.  
    
    In my opinion, the Special By-Law Committee is an ideal way
    for concerned Maynardians to get a non-life-threatening exposure
    to Town Government.  The last time I talked to the Moderator,
    there were still a few slots available on this Committee. Mark
    Sherman and I have signed up as the two Charter Commission 
    members required to be on this Committee.  As I mentioned 
    previously, the re-write of the By-Laws will "flesh-out" the
    new Charter.
    
    The Ethics Committee has not had much response.  I believe that 
    this Committee will be the least life-threatening of the two, and 
    may involve only three or four meetings.  The Ethics statement will
    probably be only two or three paragraphs in length, and there are
    many other existing Town Charters to "borrow" from.
    
    I urge you to call Dick Gerrior to sign up for either or both
    of these vital Committees.
    
    Frank 
         

    	O.K. Frank... In a previous note, you mentioned that I should get
    involved with our town government...

    	What would the By-law Committee be looking for in a member? Same
    question goes for the Ethics Committee.

    	I have always felt that I don't have the experience/background to
    give meaningful input to the workings of the town government. This may
    be a way to get involved and gain experience at the same time.

    Norma

    I signed up, with Mr. Gerrior, for the By-Law Committee after the
    second night of Town Meeting.
    
    Bill.