TOWN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Wheeler Library
September 7, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Call to order by temporary chair Bill Ricker with election of officers:
Attendance: Daniel Spring, Nita Kincaid, Bill Ricker, Paul Simonds, Daniel Smith, Diana Urban, Anne Nelson; all appointed by BOS.
Chair: Paul Simonds Voted: 7-0-0
Vice Chair: Daniel Smith Voted: 7-0-0
Secretary: Anne Nelson Voted: 7-0-0
Meeting is open to the public. Citizens’ comments welcome before and after meeting.
General discussion on job description for Selectmen does not exist. The first selectman is the top administrator in the town, responsible for everything.
We will invite Shawn Murphy, the first selectman who initiated this committee, to discuss his duties as a first selectman. There is no training required for position or experience in municipal government required. On the job training is the practice. Question raised; does the state have any statutes that say that the town manager is responsible to the board of selectmen or finance board? (Refer to CT State Statutes 7-98 for clarification of role).
Discussed pros and cons of charter and the implementation of such. Don’t feel it’s a priority at this time.
Reviewed CCM Salary Survey data of similar size towns and their salaries and positions.
Impact of change- What structure is needed to put a comprehensive plan in place to help move the town forward and what positions/skills are missing to accomplish the goals/vision of the town. What is the expertise void? Deficits in town? Skills needed?
Would a Town Manager, Finance Officer or Planner be best suited to move town forward?
Discussed results based accountability as a tool which is not widely used in town governments at this time.
The Plan of Conservation and Development is a catalyst to move forward with vision of town and defines the needs as 3 top priorities: 1. Safety 2. Education 3. Economic Development
Starting point is to utilize the POCD and facilitate the acceleration of the plan. What is needed in order to execute this plan?
Group felt we needed to invite First Selectman, Shawn Murphy to our meeting to get a better understanding of his needs as a first selectman, deficits, skills, vision, structure as it currently stands.
A call was received by Shawn from Joyce Stille, Past President of the CT City and Town Managers Association. She is interested in offering her assistance and resources. Joyce will be invited to attend one of our meetings and we will have questions for her resulting from our discussion prior with the first selectman.
We anticipate that additional information from the selectman’s office and outside resources will assist in our research for the best option for North Stonington.
We may have to double up on some meetings to accomplish our task and accommodate guest speakers.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 pm. Next meeting will take place on September 21 at 7:30 pm at the Wheeler Library.
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