By Meredith McCulloch
At their meeting on September 22, the Charter Review Committee adopted a new method for appointing the Finance Committee. It called for a fourth seat on the committee which would rotate annually among the School Committee, the Library Trustees, and the Planning Board. Three out of four votes would be required to confirm. Previously the committee had agreed to keep the current system which consists of a committee of three, the Chair of the Selectmen, Chair of the Finance Committee and the Moderator. A unanimous decision is required to make an appointment.
Charter Review Committee members thought the proposed change would allow more boards and constituencies to be represented without making the appointing committee too large and cumbersome. The new system would also mean that no one individual could essentially veto a candidate.
Here is the language approved by the Charter Review Committee and presented to the Selectmen:
Section 6-1 The Finance Committee
Members shall be appointed by 3 out of 4 vote majority of the appointment body, which shall consist of four members: The Moderator, the Chair of the Selectmen, the Chair of the Finance Committee and a fourth member who shall rotate annually in sequence from among the following Town Officers: Chair of the School Committee, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Planning Board
Other substantive recommendations outlined in the Charter Review Committee report to the Selectmen were:
- Provide that the Moderator could appoint annually a Deputy Moderator.
- Change the size and timetable for the Volunteer Coordinating Committee (see https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2014/09/22/charter-review-committee-recommends-expansion-of-volunteer-coordinating-committee/)
- Change the number of signatures of registered voters for a recall petition of an elected official from 10% to 20%.
In addition, numerous small changes were recommended to improve readability and clarity or to better reflect actual practice.
The Selectmen took no positions that night, but will discuss and vote on the recommendations at their October 6 meeting. Approved recommendations will be placed on the Warrant for Special Town Meeting on Thursday, November 6.
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