Town Government Study Committee Charge - Adopted December 8, 2020, Amended January 19, 2021
Town Government Study Committee: 3-5 SubCommittee
Citizen Survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SB_3_5_residentsurvey
Committee Members, appointed through December 31, 2021
Michael S. Lucy, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Dave B. Anderson, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Harriet P. Davis, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Deidre T. Pierotti, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Roger L. Smerage, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Patrick J. Waddell, 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee, Chair
Kirsten Alexander 3 to 5 Selectmen Study SubCommittee
Ernest C. Ashley, DPW/Water Combination Study Chair
Albert W. Dodge, Consolidate Social Services Study Committee Chair
Richard E. Quinn, Social Services Study SubCommittee
Mission: To study possible reorganization of portions of the Town of Wenham government structure.
Objectives: The Committee will be divided into three teams, each to study the positive and negative impacts of three particular changes to current town government structure. The committee team addressing the first question will prepare a preliminary written report, to include majority and any minority views, for presentation at the Annual Town Meeting in May 2021. Each team, separately will provide a final report to the Board of Selectmen by 30 November 2021. The three questions are:
- Will the Town of Wenham be better served by a three-person or five-person Select Board?
- Will the Town of Wenham be better served by a separate or combined Department of Public Works and Water Department?
- Will the Town of Wenham be better served by the current five social services committees, which include Wenham Affordable Housing Trust, Wenham Issues of Social Services Help, Council on Aging, Wenham Connects, and Wenham Housing Authority, or by a consolidation of those committees?
The committee teams should interview available previous and current town officials and committee members, town administrators and department heads, and town employees for their expertise and experience on these questions. The committee teams should acquire information from State of Massachusetts resources and from comparable municipalities. The committee teams should consider previous Town of Wenham government studies and interview study group members.
Membership: The Committee will consist of three co-chairman each separately leading a team addressing one of the questions along with six members designated for that team, all of whom will serve from date of appointment until 31 December 2021. Additionally, Mr. Paul Weaver, former Wenham Town Moderator and Town Counsel, will serve ex officio on this committee, bringing his comprehensive knowledge of Wenham government history and organization as a highly valuable resource for the Committee. Mr. Tom Younger, Town Administrator, or his successor in that position, will serve ex officio on this committee, bringing extensive municipal government experience to the Committee.
Members will have a vote only on matters addressed by their team. Each committee team by majority vote will elect a Secretary at its first meeting, those terms running until 31 December 2021. The Secretary will be responsible for their team’s meeting minutes. Each co-Chairman will be responsible for providing an update on their team’s progress to the Board of Selectman by 31 March, 30 June, and 30 September.
