1. Government Study Committee
Presentation of Form of Government Options
January 22, 2004

2. SHARON TOWN GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMITTEE MEMBERS: George Bailey, Anne Carney, David Fixler, Dennis Friedman, Andrew Nebenzahl, Gloria Rose Sam Zisblatt, Patricia Zlotin

3. Charge of the Committee: To examine the governmental structure of Sharon and submit findings and recommendations to the Town.

4. Focus of committee’s first year was to improve the current open town meeting format.

5. Recent Changes to Open Town Meeting: Two Scheduled Town Meetings 1
Recent Changes to Open Town Meeting: Two Scheduled Town Meetings 1. Annual Town Meeting in the Spring – Mainly Budgetary Items 2. Special Town Meeting in the Fall - Mainly Non-Budgetary Items

6. Changes cont. -. All town meetings will begin. at
Changes cont. - All town meetings will begin at 7PM instead of 8 PM - Annual Town Meeting will now take place before the town election

7. Suggestions: -. No more than two consecutive
Suggestions: - No more than two consecutive nights for a town meeting - Limits on the time each person speaks (Moderator’s discretion)

8. Suggestions cont Have counters sworn in prior to the start of town meeting - Have new finance committee members names published prior to the town meeting

9. Second year’s focus is to look at all forms of governance: - Open Town Meeting - Representative Town Meeting - Council

10. 263 Towns have Open Town Meeting (75%) Towns have Representative Town Meeting (11%) Cities and Towns have a Council Form of Government (14%)

11. Of the 50 with Council form,. 44. have a mayor -
Of the 50 with Council form, 44 have a mayor - Of the 6 without a mayor, 5 are Towns

12. Current Government Structure
Local Elections
Offices/Overrides/Local Options/Referendums
Open Town Meeting
Legislative/Fiscal/Committees
Boards and Committees

13. Attributes of Open Town Meeting
Open to all voters
Supporters of an issue can vote as a block
Purest form of democracy as everybody has a vote

14. Attributes Of Open Town Meeting Continued
‘Special Interests’ can have large influence if attendance is low
Difficult to ensure attendees have sufficient information to vote

15. Attributes Of Open Town Meeting Continued
Long meetings as many people may speak on a particular topic
Amendments can make it difficult to ensure a deliberative process occurs
Long time lag between setting a date and meeting so difficult to deal with special opportunities

16. Attributes of Open Town Meeting Continued
Individual votes not recorded
No detailed minutes of debate recorded
Some voters feel intimidated

17. Attributes of Open Town Meeting Continued
If have large attendance, need more meeting space
school age children, business travel, evening work hours limit many voters participation

18. Attributes of Representative Town Meeting
Representatives elected by Precinct (from 10 to 25 each - usually 3 year terms)
Major difference between RTM and OTM is only elected representatives able to vote

19. Attributes of Representative Town Meeting Continued
Smaller number of people to inform about issues
More difficult for special interests to dominate meeting
Increases neighborhood cohesiveness as representatives meet with local constituents

20. Attributes of Representative Town Meeting Continued
Limited citizen participation (Citizens may address the meeting with the permission of the moderator)
May be dominated by special interests elected as a block
No true accountability to constituents as votes are normally not recorded

21. Attributes of Town Council
Significant change from OTM or RTM as Council makes all decisions for the town
From 9 to 15 Council members (as determined by Charter) elected by District, at-large, or both
Present a unified vision for town rather than having disparate views among Boards

22. Attributes of Town Council Continued
Professional town manager responsible for daily operations, reports to TC
Consolidate work of many Boards/Committees
Boards (Planning, Conservation, Health, Appeals, Finance) may be retained - reporting to Council.

23. Attributes of Town Council Continued
Smaller body so more deliberative (Charter may require several notices and reviews before actions taken)
Votes Recorded so accountability
Public testimony allowed at each meeting of Council (by Charter)

24. Attributes of Town Council Continued
Clear lines of authority
Option to have Council President serve on School Committee
Ability to act quickly on issues (Councils meet bi-weekly)