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Commission debates internal government structure, separation of HR and finance
Summary
Commissioners spent the meeting examining Section 304’s enumeration of powers, debating whether to create a permanent finance director role, separate HR from finance, define department heads, and establish second-in-command responsibilities for the town manager.
The commission devoted significant time to Section 304 (enumeration of powers and duties), focusing on how town departments would be structured under a revised charter. Members weighed making the finance director a permanent chartered post versus leaving the role contingent or handled by the treasurer and deputy treasurer.
Several commissioners argued that human resources should be a separate function from finance to avoid conflicts of interest and to relieve pressure on the town administrator. Commissioners noted past bookkeeping problems that prompted temporary changes to finance staffing and said clearer job descriptions, formal personnel committee oversight, and certification/bonding requirements would help future administration.
The commission discussed clarifying the chain of command: defining department heads, identifying who staff should report to, and creating a second-in-command for when the town manager is absent. Several members proposed drafting an organizational chart reflecting the town’s actual operations (finance, HR, planning, public safety, public works, transfer station, library) and then reviewing it with the town manager before finalizing charter text.
Commissioners agreed to invite the town manager (Matt) and other department heads to a future meeting to reconcile the proposed chart with current practice and to ask the attorney whether certain structural changes require full charter amendment procedures or could be adopted in stages.
