Not quite meeting its needs
Town may opt for council, manager
With a population of more than 20,000 spread across nearly 29 square miles of land, it grew obvious that the town of Easton had too many needs to discuss only twice a year at Town Meeting.
Now it is exploring the possibility of becoming the latest community in eastern Massachusetts to adopt a more modern form of town government.
“The open town meeting format worked better in the Pilgrim era, but it’s not for a town this size,’’ said Stephen Merlin, chairman of the Special Act Charter Committee, a local group charged with creating a formal proposal for the town manager-town council form of government. “With a town manager-town council format, you can have meetings on issues every two weeks.’’
In 2006, the three-person charter committee was created to study various forms of government that could improve efficiency within the town. The committee explored several ideas, but ultimately the town manager-town council format was considered the ideal fit for Easton. The panel is now working on the proposal document and aims to submit a report to the Board of Selectmen sometime between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31. Some form of open discussion on the topic with the town would follow.
Easton is the latest community in the area to have sought to replace its town-meeting government, seen by critics as a vestige of early New England that has been overrun by population growth and development and the increasingly complex business of governing.
In April, Randolph residents voted overwhelmingly to do away with their longstanding Town Meeting in favor of the town manager-town council format. Beginning next January, Randolph will be run by a town manager and a nine-person town council. Elections will be held this fall to fill the open positions.
A similar proposal is being explored in Bridgewater, where a Town Government Study Committee was formed in 2007. At Town Meeting in May, Bridgewater residents voted to continue the committee for another year as it examines the current government. Among the committee’s suggestions is to switch to a town manager-town council format.
In recent years, some Massachusetts towns have gone even further in their government overhauls. Most recently, in January 2008, Braintree began using the mayoral system after abandoning its town-meeting format.
In Easton, many residents welcome the proposed change, believing it will improve efficiency in local governance.
“The move would be a positive one, since it would remove the issue of having a quorum at the open town meetings,’’ said Deborah Urquhart, an Easton resident. “There have been issues that haven’t moved forward because there were not enough people to vote. Whether it is the best choice, I don’t know. However, if issues are going to be handled on a regular basis such as every two weeks by those we vote into office and trust, then it should be a very good move.
“Personally, I would prefer trusting someone that I voted in over the current governing structure. Easton is growing, and the issues should represent the needs of all and be decided by a council for all.’’
Merlin said that though it was possible to have the new form of government installed by late next year, it was far more likely that the town would make the switch by 2012, if the proposal passed.
Converting to the town manager-town council format would not be a simple process.
First, the Board of Selectmen must approve the written proposal from the Special Act Charter Committee. Then Town Meeting would vote on the proposed change and, if it’s accepted, approval would be sought from the Legislature.
The proposed new structure for Easton would feature nine town council members - one each from the six voting precincts, and three at large. The members would select a town manager. According to Merlin, the town manager would function as a CEO, taking care of the day-to-day operations in the town, such as fiscal and personnel affairs. The town council would be responsible for legislative work, such as setting policies.
“It would be similar to Brockton’s city council structure,’’ said Merlin, of the proposed format. “Where they have four at-large councilors and seven councilors who represent the seven voting wards, we would have one representative from each of Easton’s six voting precincts. That way, everyone in the town would have a local representative on the town council.
“For instance,’’ he said, “if someone has a problem with a pothole in their neighborhood, they can go to a specific person on the council who represents their area.’’
Under this recommended format, the town would hold elections in the fall with the rest of the state, and candidates would vie for four-year terms. Additionally, the terms would be “staggered,’’ so that not all councilors would be up for reelection the same year.
Originally, the committee aimed to report their findings in the early part of the summer. However, the proposal has stirred a great deal of interest, including among the town’s Finance Committee, who, under the proposed changes would potentially be reduced from nine to five members.
Ultimately, Merlin said, the proposal could have a polarizing effect, as some people might not welcome the proposed changes.
“It’s hard to tell,’’ said Merlin. “The idea was first introduced in May. Some people like the open town meeting format. Others with small children, or those who work, have a prejudice toward the format.’’
