There were 8 articles on last evening’s Special Town Meeting Warrant. Seven passed and one did not.
Article 8, the final article of the evening, was from a Citizens’ Petition submitted by Town Meeting Member Michael Joyce and others requesting the Town Moderator appoint a 7 person committee “for the purpose of studying the form and organization of the Town of Milton government.” It was defeated by a standing vote 96-63.
Mr. Joyce submitted the article arguing that the form of Milton’s government had not changed since its incorporation. The question he asked was whether town meeting was still the best form of government to address the needs and concerns of the residents. He acknowledged that the committee may find that no change was necessary or desired, but that it was a question worth asking and appointing a committee to explore. Several members rose both to both oppose and support the article.
Bob Hiss delivered a power point presentation in which he made a number of points for why he believed town meeting was the preferred form of government for Milton and should not be changed. Principal among them would be a significant change to citizen participation. He argued that town meeting distributes power and allows for the greatest number of voices to be heard. He cited figures showing that with Milton’s population there is a ratio of representative to citizen of 1:3.9 versus 1:100 with forms of government such as Mayor or Town Manager and council. When he asked rhetorically, “What is the harm of the committee? The harm is that the committee exists.” He concluded saying that it would put the town on an inescapable path to change our form of town government.
Other members who opposed the article included Paul Pasaquerella who, addressing the argument that the committee could look at making the town more efficient, said, “I don’t want my democracy to be efficient.” Marjorie Jeffries also opposed the article saying “I was stunned to learn [that when she came to Milton] I could stand up and possibly sway 300 people.”
Joyce argued that the committee’s study “does not bind us to anything.” Steve Morash also supported the article as did Phil Matthews. Morash said he saw FUD in the discussion, “Fear, uncertainty and doubt” and that he would not let that drive his decision. In a somewhat similar vein, Matthews said” I do not fear what this article will bring.” He went on to say that a committee appointed by the Town Moderator would insulate the committee from bias.
Matthews was referring to the committee recently appointed by the Selectmen to essentially perform the same charter as identified in the article. Joyce noted that he had initiated the process of filing the article when he appeared before the Selectmen to inform them about it. After listening to Joyce the Selectmen made a motion to appoint a committee. Hurley and Shields supported the appointments the Selectmen had made. Shields spoke to the need to have people that thoroughly understood town government and that those appointed all did. They include Town Meeting Member Rick Neely, former Town Administrator John Cronin, current Warrant Chair Ewan Innes, and former Warrant Chair Kathleen Conlon, School Committee member Leroy Walker, Asst. Town Administrator Ann Marie Fagan, and resident Robert Gatnik.
Hurley opposed the article because the Joyce committee would be duplicative and “we already have a committee to do that” (i.e.look at town government. This seemed to render many of the other arguments opposing the appointment of the committee moot. The issue was not whether or not a committee would look at our form of town government and review opportunities for departmental efficiency but, as Meeting Member Peter Mullin noted, who appointed it.
In defeating the article Town Meeting approved the Selectmen appointing a committee to “study the operation and structure of all departments and offices of Town Government with its goal being to recommend changes, if any, that would effect economics or increase efficiency including but not limited to the form of town government in Milton.”
The debate about the merits of Town Meeting versus an alternative is one that may return to the floor depending on the findings of this committee.
Hurley said that the Selectmen had made two changes to the charge initially defined in the motion they passed to appoint the committee. The committee will report to Town Meeting not the Selectmen and the Town Moderator will appoint an additional two members to the committee.
Among the articles passed was one approving that the town enter into a 25 year lease with the Commonwealth for the Ulin rink. Meeting Member Dr. Shea expressed concern that the community groups be protected (e.g. Learn to Skate program etc). Selectmen assured him that language in contract to whomever managed the rink (it is currently being managed by Curry College) would achieve that.
Congressmen Lynch and Capuano were on hand to address the crowd. Ed Duffy paid respects to Jack Linehan a long standing town official who served the town in a variety of capacities and who in Mr. Duffy’s words would continue to be “a light that would continue to shine from the river to the hills.”