Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Rules topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board moves rules changes to public hearing as membership expands to five
Summary
The Select Board agreed by consensus to publish three proposed changes to the board’s rules—update membership to five as of March 11, set quorum at three, and add a restriction limiting officers to one term in any three‑year period—and scheduled a public hearing next week.
The Swansea Select Board agreed to forward three proposed amendments to its rules of procedure to a public hearing next week ahead of the board expanding from three to five members.
The proposed edits would change Section 2.1 to reflect a five‑member board effective March 11, set the definition of a quorum to three members, and add language restricting an individual member from serving more than once in any three‑year period for the chair, vice chair and secretary roles. “One of the concerns I have from visiting other towns is that when you have a five‑member board, it's easy for officers to become entrenched,” the board member who introduced the change said, explaining the rotation language.
Board members discussed timing and whether additional staff additions to the draft rules (a memo from town staff was referenced) warrant inclusion; the board agreed by consensus to move the items to a public hearing and asked staff to circulate the materials and confirm noticing requirements.
The board also discussed training and onboarding for incoming members; members asked staff to gather pricing and details for New Hampshire Municipal Association courses and for a one‑day session on April 22 for new members.
No final changes to the rules were adopted at the meeting; the public hearing will allow the board to receive formal public comment before any vote.
