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Commission debates limits on directing town staff, seeks charter language to guarantee timely board access to information
Summary
Commission discussed whether the Board of Selectmen or other boards may direct staff, and how to ensure boards and commissions can obtain timely reports through the town manager; no final revision adopted, staff to draft clarifying language.
Commissioners spent extensive time debating a proposed charter sentence that would restrict elected officials from directing town employees while ensuring boards and commissions can obtain necessary information in a timely manner. The discussion centered on balancing the need to prevent ad hoc orders to staff with the practical requirement that boards — especially the Board of Finance and land-use bodies — be able to get reports and data to fulfill legal duties.
Commissioners and staff agreed on a core principle: the town manager should be responsible for ensuring town staff deliver information and support to elected and appointed boards. But…
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