Selectboard's position on proposed citizens' petition to create Finance Committee
Posted on: June 11, 2019 - 5:05pm
The following is a message from the Princeton Selectboard. Attached is a copy of the same information, in a formal letter format.
May 9, 2019
Dear Residents,
During the past year, the Selectboard has worked to improve communication and financial processes. We appreciate the positive feedback we have received from many residents about our monthly letters.
We are writing to oppose Articles XXI and XXII on this year’s Town Warrant, which would revise the Town’s by-laws. They were placed on the warrant by citizens’ petition and would change the role of the Town’s Advisory Committee and the method of appointment of its members. Our primary concerns with these by-law changes are:
- They remove the ability of the Selectboard to align budget priorities with policy and vision priorities
- It splits responsibility for creating a budget from implementing the budget
- Power and responsibility are being removed from an elected board and moved to an appointed committee
- This would reduce teamwork between the Selectboard and the Advisory/Finance Committee
- More of the budgeting process could be done outside of the public view since 3 members of the Finance Committee could work on budgeting policies and preparation without needing to be in an open meeting.
Two years ago, Town Meeting declined to consider a similar citizens’ petition by passing over it on the floor. In response to the concerns expressed by the proponents of the change, the Selectboard formed the Advisory Committee Review Committee (ACRC) to study whether by-laws changes were needed. Committee members David Cruise, Terry Hart, Anne Littlefield, Joe O’Brien and Bob Sauer have served decades on Princeton Selectboards and Advisory Committees. They did not recommend by-law changes. Their unanimous report (see: http://www.town.princeton.ma.us/.../ACRCFinalReport.pdf) included the following statements (highlighting added):
- The Advisory Committee’s role can and should be an expansive one in which they consider any issues, whether or not primarily financial, regarding which the skills and knowledge of the Committee may be useful to the town, and make recommendations to the town. The role should not be limited to considering and offering opinions on items on Town Meeting warrants.
- The Select Board should continue to be the appointing authority for the Advisory Committee.
- Planning for and organizing the short- and long-term, overall financial affairs of the town, including but not limited to town budgets submitted to Town Meetings, should be centered in the Select Board, with active involvement and support of the Town Administrator and Advisory Committee.
- …we strongly recommend developing and maintaining a long term financial plan.
- The interconnectedness of all these roles requires a spirit of collaboration among all the participants.
While we agree with the goal of budgeting in the context of a long-term financial plan, we disagree that a by-law change is productive in meeting that goal. We are committed to continuing the development of a long-term financial plan for next year’s budget.
In response to the ACRC’s recommendations, the Selectboard asked the Advisory Committee to become more involved in financial planning, specifically by proposing financial policies and a budget calendar for this year. The Selectboard also proposed that the Advisory Committee and Town Administrator meet together with department heads on budget needs and the Advisory Committee and Town Administrator would make either a joint or separate recommendation to the Selectboard for the FY20 budget. The Advisory Committee agreed to taken on financial policies and the budget calendar but not until next year. The Selectboard greatly appreciates that they agreed to become involved earlier in the budget process and look forward to meeting together over the summer to analyze how the process worked and determine what can be improved.
We urge rejection of the proposed by-laws changes. They will not help us address Princeton’s needs. The current by-law gives the Advisory Committee the freedom and authority to research and advise on all matters that impact the Town. We support the recommendations of the ACRC, particularly their emphasis on “a collaborative/team approach to Princeton’s governance.”
Sincerely,
The Princeton Selectboard
Richard Bisk, Chair
Karen Cruise
Edith Morgan