FinCom should go into details on streets
Reading your issue of 4/23/20 and the Letter to the Editor, “FinCom is doing its job,” piqued my interest, and is causing me to stretch a promise I made to myself many years ago: Do not be involved in the affairs of Town Meeting in my native town of Fairhaven.
As Town Moderator in our dear town, for near twenty years, I made it “my business’ to become involved in the operations of the Town Meeting and all of the movements under that title. One of the important functions back then was the Finance Committee, members being elected to office by the individual voting precinct members to serve the Town Meeting by investigating every warrant item on the Town Meeting Warrant, special or annual.
I do not know what rules have been changed, but back then The Finance Committee even issued a listing of recommendations to the voters on every item on the warrant. At Town Meeting the selectmen usually made the positive motion to adopt, and the Finance Committee presented their recommendation. In the case of BPW items the Board of Public Works made the motion to adopt and the FinCom made its finding on each item in the request.
Individual streets were discussed and voted on separately, as I recall. This gave the Town Meeting members more input to the discussions of each street repair. This did cause longer meetings but allowed for the input from the public. And after all, that is, or was, the point of Town Meeting.
I recall one time there was a controversy about Camel Street and the residents of the street gathered at Town Meeting and presented their own pleadings to the members, and after considerable discussion, the motion passed and the individual citizens carried the day.
Again, in closing, I apologize or getting involved. I am, Chet Hathaway, Former Moderator of Your Town Meeting.
Thank You to the NeighbNews.
Chet Hathaway, Dundee, FL
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Click here to download the entire 5/7/20 issue: 05-07-20 BreakfastBags
Click here to download the MassDEP letter about PJ Keating: SP PJ Keating Applicability Determination 04282020
