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Select board debates electronic-device rules, information sharing and begins work-plan prioritization
Summary
Board members debated limiting use of electronic devices during meetings, requiring interim information to be routed through the town manager, and agreed to group and prioritize a 21-item work plan with hiring a town manager as the top priority.
The Wolfeboro select board spent significant time April 22 debating rules of procedure focused on electronic-device use, transparency of interim communications, and how to prioritize a 21-item work plan.
Linda proposed language discouraging cell-phone use in meetings and restricting board members from using devices to transmit questions from members of the public into live discussion. "Cell phone use is discouraged," she said, adding that messages or side conversations can undermine transparency. Other members agreed electronic-device guidance should cover laptops and phones and focus on communications that bypass the public record.
Members also discussed a long-standing problem of information coming to some members and not others. The group favored a practical fix: when an individual board member receives substantive interim information, they should copy the town manager so the update can be shared with the full board. Barry, the interim town manager, said he compiles notes during the week and can include items in his weekly report.
On the work plan, board members considered 21 proposed items and agreed on a two-step approach: each member will group items into a small number of categories (for example, strategic/vital, do-now, and town-manager tasks) and submit their groupings to Amy for consolidation. Members repeatedly said hiring a permanent town manager should be the board’s top priority this year.
Resident Karen Bernatkuri urged the board in public comment to prioritize staffing and restoring town operations while the manager role is vacant.
Next steps: Board members will submit their categorized work-plan lists to Amy ahead of the May 6 meeting; staff will draft updated language on electronic-device use and information routing for a future agenda.
