Commentary by Frank Schroth

Tonight Town Meeting will convene at the Winchester Auditorium at Milton High School. It is a major annual legislative event. All our elected representatives and town officials are there along with critical committees such as the Warrant Committee. The Warrant Committee is arguably the most important but there are many more as can be seen here. Those gathered will review the 2011 town warrant and vote on the articles it contains. Most of these relate to town department budgets. The Patriot Ledger has a good synopsis which can be found here.

So what’s missing?

What we do not have is a clear articulation of what the town has achieved in the past year and the challenges it faces in the months to come. And both are significant.

It seems to us that a brief summary of where we are going and where we have been might be a good thing. It would be good for the gathered town meeting members and it would be good for the residents watching the broadcast on MATV. It can rally the community to address the issues we face, celebrate in the accomplishments realized, and reflect over mistakes made or opportunities lost.

This year has seen the formation of a new town department tasked with the maintenance and care of our buildings. Our schools are library are jewels to be cared for. The Police Station and Council on Aging are also solid assets. Our DPW yard and fire stations are a much different story. What is the status of the department? What are the hopes and realities?

The Governor Stoughton property is an issue on many people’s minds. Will it be preserved as open space, developed to offer affordable housing, become a high-end housing development, or some mixed use solution? We do not know and the Selectmen have not indicated what direction they are going in. They are acting in their capacity as trustees of the will. There will be no hearing. Ms. McEttrick has resigned from the board and Mr. Hurley will need to get up to speed on the issue. But an understanding of the process being followed, the issues being reviewed and the deadline for a result would be of interest to all.

Who would give such an address? The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, as our executive branch, might make sense. This suggestion is not likely to be greeted with open arms. This is work and they already work – very hard. They would need to come to consensus on what to say. That might be a challenge. And there might be a situation, as there is this year, with a new member joining the board who has not had input on the address.

Be that as it may – shining  a light on the town’s achievements and highlighting the difficulties and opportunities (our 350th birthday!) that lie ahead may be a chance to both inform the town, build pride, and marshal support. These may outweigh the logistical challenges of composing and delivering such an address. It won’t happen this year; but it could happen next.

What do you think?

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