Minutes

Hancock Advisory Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

 

Present: Gail Hoffmann, Marsha Kono, Rich LeFebvre, Tony Lockwood, Greg Lusted (Chairperson), Pat Payne, and Ric Haskins (Town Moderator).

The meeting convened at 6:45 p.m.

 

Ric Haskins welcomed new members Marsha Kono, Tony Lockwood and Pat Payne. Greg Lusted was selected as Chairperson and Marsha Kono as Secretary. We agreed that, as in past years, draft minutes will be circulated to members for comments and final minutes posted on line so all residents have access.

Tony Lockwood asked if the Committee has written bylaws or a mission statement, or has any kind of state mandate. Ric Haskins shared his understanding that it is a "gathering of citizens, appointed by the Moderator to provide input to the Select Board on budget issues," but said he didn't have anything more specific in writing.

 

Rich LeFebvre, speaking on behalf of returning members, expressed concern and frustration that the Select Board and the voters disregarded the Committee's strong recommendations for fiscal restraint in 2009, noting that he and other Committee members have since received complaints (and expressions of surprise/concern) from residents about the 15+% increase in Town taxes. That disconnect, he believes, raises questions about the effectiveness of the Advisory Committee process and whether it's worth the significant effort put in by members. Those present agreed the Committee needs a clearer sense of what the Select Board expects of and is willing to accept from us, and also a sense of what messages are being conveyed to Town Departments for the 2010 budget process.

 

This led to a discussion of the low level of attendance and participation at the annual Town Meeting (just over 200 of 1312 voters). Gail Hoffmann and Marsha Kono commented on the lack of discussion and apparent hesitancy of residents to express disagreement. Pat Payne, Ric Haskins, Greg Lusted and Rich LeFebvre agreed that greater use of secret ballots on major items could encourage people to be freer in their voting. It was suggested the Committee work with the Select Board on ways to increase both attendance and participation at the annual Town Meeting.

 

In light of the concerns raised, it was agreed to book time in September with the Select Board to get a sense of where they stand on the 2010 budget process, their receptiveness to the Committee's role, and copies of the Committee's "charter."

 

Ric Haskins briefly reviewed the schedule looking forward, noting that proposed Budgets must be finalized two weeks before Town Meeting, so the Committee needs to button down its recommendations and comments by the first week in February.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Marsha Kono

 

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