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Town shifts appointing authority for advisory committee to the Select Board
Summary
Town Meeting approved a petition to transfer appointing authority for the advisory committee from the town moderator to the elected Select Board, a change proponents said increases accountability; the Advisory Committee recommended against the change citing separation‑of‑powers concerns but the article passed.
Mark Anderson moved that Article 45 amend the general bylaws to transfer appointing authority for committees formed under town meeting (including the Advisory Committee) from the town moderator to the elected Select Board. Anderson argued the change creates democratic accountability because the Select Board members are elected and answerable at the ballot box.
The Advisory Committee opposed the change on separation‑of‑powers grounds, saying the article contained internal conflicts and risked rejection by the Attorney General. Supporters argued Massachusetts General Law chapter 39, section 16 allows appointing authority to be exercised by the moderator and/or the board of selectmen and that many communities follow the proposed approach.
After a short debate and a motion to move the question, Town Meeting voted to approve the petitioner’s proposal; the moderator announced the vote as affirmative (recorded as unanimous in the transcript).
