Archive for Governance
02.15.13
Posted in Governance at 4:35 PM by Tanna K
This article was written by several local attorneys, a few Cohasset citizens, and had input from two south shore town managers. It is important that the Governance committee take a new look at its draft proposal and consider the comments here-in. This is an important document. It will govern the Town of Cohasset for who knows how many years to come. What is this document the Cohasset Governance committee has pieced together? Is it a totally new constitution or is it an amendment? Our writers say it may be a Town Administrator form of government. If so, it should go to ballot.
This past week the Cohasset Governance committee posted what it termed a “working draft” for a comprehensive overhaul of the Town Manager Act.
Because it was created following the controversy concerning appointments to the Conservation Commission in July 2011, there has been frustration that the Governance committee focused on the role of the Town Manager rather than on its initial charge that was to look into the reasons why Selectmen Paul Carlson, Lee Jenkins and Fred Koed replaced several veteran commissioners with people sympathetic to the position of the self-styled E-20 citizen’s group on Cat Dam. The posting of the working draft now makes it clear- in a sinister sense- that the future of the Conservation Commission has always been in the forefront of those on the Governance committee particularly, given the its members included Ralph Dormitzer, George Chamillard (who stepped down from the committee last summer only after a local newspaper repeatedly pointed out his conflict on serving on the Advisory committee and Governance), and Michael Milanoski who is presently the acting Town Manager, and who initially served as chairman of Governance.
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Posted in Governance at 10:51 AM by Tanna K
Cohasset Governance Committee
February 13, 2013
Dear Citizens:
In the Fall of 2011 the Board of Selectmen created the Governance Committee to review governance in the Town of Cohasset. Our charge was to “Identify any area of the Cohasset Governance Structure that may be improved to provide better governance including accountability and effective/efficient use of limited tax payer dollars”.
Since the spring of 2012 the committee has been reviewing the Town Manager Act. The Act defines the role and the powers of the Selectmen and the Town Manager in the performance of their duties. We have completed the review and have attached a draft of the Act with our proposed changes for your review. Click to Read: DraftTMAct
Current Town Manager_Act
The objectives of the review were:
- to clearly define the responsibilities of the Town Manager relative to the Board of Selectmen and the citizens of Cohasset
- to simplify and organize the Act so it is a clear and logical document
- to correct errors in content or language
- align the language of the Act with Massachusetts General Law and the town’s by-laws
The next important step in revising the Town Manager Act is to solicit feedback from the community so that your comments and suggestions can be considered in the final draft which will be presented at the Annual Town Meeting on April 22nd for a vote.
Due to the complexity of the document and the anticipated number of comments we expect to receive from the community, we are asking that all comments and suggested changes to the draft be submitted in writing to the Chairman. You may submit your written comments to governance@townofcohasset.org or to the drop box located at Town Hall (Clerk’s Office, 1st Floor). The last day for submission of comments to be considered for inclusion in the article is 5pm Monday, March 4th.
We have scheduled two public forums on February 28th and March 7th at the High School community room at 7:00pm to review the changes to the Act and to answer any questions you may have.
The draft of the Town Manager Act published here is also posted on the town website, along with the Town Manager Act of 1997 for comparison.
We welcome all comments and look forward to seeing you at the public hearings on February 28th and March 7th.
Christine Cunning
Chairman
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02.06.13
Posted in Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 12:49 PM by Tanna K
Thursday morning (Feb 7) at 7:30 a.m. Cohasset Governance will discuss changes to the Town Manager Act suggested by the Town Counsel including part of the original act that allows the Town Manager complete assess to privileged documents and personal information. (See preceding blog.)
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02.05.13
Posted in Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 8:25 PM by Tanna K
Town Counsel Paul DeRensis met with Governance chair Christine Cunning and her committee for over two and a half hours Monday night regarding the legal ramifications of their work on changes to the Town Manager Act.
A lively and interesting discussion revolved around part of the present act that states, in the original Act. Especially, because Selectman Martha Gjesteby is challenging the right of the town manager to “troll” thorough her E-mail and has filed a complaint with the Attorney General.
The town manager shall have access to all municipal books, papers and documents or information necessary for the proper performance of the duties of said town manager. Said town manager may, without notice, cause the affairs of any division or department under the manager’s supervision or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof to be examined.
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12.28.12
Posted in Cohasset Selectmen, Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 1:19 AM by Tanna K
Selectmen originally planned to have their first fistfight of the New Year on January 8th, but Selectmen and their acting town manager moved it up a week to Wednesday, Jan. 2.
At 7:05 p.m.: Money for technology and security upgrades failed at the special meeting when the warrant article 6 was found to be deficient. Perhaps the acting town manager has discovered another money reservoir, as he is requesting “action” on this item.
At 7:25 p.m: Selectmen will discuss an unauthorized release of confidential /attorney client privileged information from a member of the board of selectmen to the general (sic) public. So on Jan. 2 selectmen will go after one of their own. It is thought that the selectman in question is Martha Gjesteby, who is currently in the hospital recovering from surgery. When we called Gjesteby late yesterday to see if she had any comments regarding this agenda item she said not at this time. All we have to say about this is – if this document was released to the general (sic) public, we want a copy. Milanoski has requested action on this item.
At 7:45 p.m.: Selectmen are slated to sign yet another contract with Milanoski, who has not yet been here a year. We think this will something like the 4th contract they have discussed having with him. This one will probably be the acting town manager contracted discussed at selectmen’s last meeting. If so, it will start July 1 and end Dec. 2013. It will replace the illegal town manager’s contract he currently holds with various “unenforceable” sections. Yet another contract Selectmen had planned to offer Milanoski, one which would have retained him through June 2015, seems to have gone by the by.
At 8 p.m. there will be an executive session to discuss non-union and union negotiations. It is our understanding that Milanoski has not yet concluded any negotiations. I guess when you brag about the $1MM the town made this year and then ask the unions to take a 0% increase, your request falls upon deaf ears.
After the executive session there will be a public discussion of the executive session.
Weird.
The Governance Committee will meet at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 3rd at the Cohasset Middle School. Several town officials claim selectmen may try to slip a quickie special town meeting into the winter-spring months in order to get a second shot at changes to the Town Manager’s Act, which would give them a third shot at the Annual meeting, if needed. Governance does appear to be trying to bring revisions to the act to a quick end, perhaps this is the reason.
This ain’t no way to run a town.
Happy New Year.
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12.19.12
Posted in Cohasset Selectmen, Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 12:52 AM by Tanna K
On Wed., 12:27 a.m., Select Chair Paul Carlson sent the media a press release from Town Counsel Paul DeRensis of Deutsch Williams that basically says Milanoski’s contract is illegal. DeRensis, however, says it very nicely. TownCounsel Be assured, Selectmen, Tinytown Unleashed will proceed with its request for a declaratory judgment from Norfolk Superior Court regarding the question – under what legal authority have you been running the Town since June 26, 2012?
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12.14.12
Posted in Cohasset Selectmen, Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 1:26 AM by Tanna K
In January we start thinking about annual town meeting and town elections.
Did selectmen set the date of the annual town meeting? I don’t think so. They were legally supposed to do that on or before Dec. 1 of this year. But they have been very busy, as you know, and are about to get even busier. Mostly, bylaws and Town Manager Acts are broken these days. There is no process.
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12.12.12
Posted in Cohasset Selectmen, Governance, Karen Quigley at 11:53 AM by Karen Quigley
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat of Article 14 at Town Meeting Monday night, I was so focused on the chess game – what’s their next move/what’s our next move – that I failed to fully grasp and appreciate the importance of that vote. I apologize to everyone I spoke to yesterday for being the skunk at the party.
For despite the Moderator’s attempt to keep the discussion focused on the issue and not on personalities, there was not a person in that room that did not know that this was a referendum not only on the Acting Town Manager, but also on the BoS and those Town officials who support them.
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12.04.12
Posted in Governance, Uncategorized at 5:25 PM by Tanna K
Mary Snow, DPW Administrative Assistant, has written to the Town Moderator with a copy to the press and the Chairman of the Cohasset Board of Selectmen, asking for a ballot vote on Article 14.
Article 14 asks Dec. 10 Special Town Meeting to bring the Town Manager’s Act into conformance with the Town Manager’s illegal contract.
In her letter, Ms. Snow said:
Dear Mr. Evans,
I am respectfully requesting that Article 14 be voted on by a ballot vote. This article deals with changing the Town Manager Act which could potentially effect the current Acting Town Manager Mike Milonoski’s future employment with the Town of Cohasset and thus its employees.
There are many employees of the town that are also residents and feel that they will not be able to vocally vote on this article without fear of retribution. We are very much aware of the deviseness of this article and only look to preserve our right to vote.
I have spoken to the Town Clerk who has assured me that this has been done in the past with no extra effort. She is always prepared for this type of request and is comfortable with the process.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Yours Truly,
Mary L. Snow
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Posted in Governance, Tanna Kasperowicz at 1:43 PM by Tanna K
Statements made in support of professional management from the Tinytown Gazettes of 1997:
Susan Ovans, Publisher of the Hull Times, who has been known to be pretty tough on town officials said: “No one’s running for office this year but then so what? We have Phil (Phil Lemnios, Hull Town Manager).”
Tom Callahan, candidate for Cohasset Selectman “We need professional management in both town hall and on specific projects. …ultimately. the success of (the Town Manager) depends on sound director and exercise of executive authority by the selectmen.”
Alex Koines, candidate for Cohasset Selectman “A town manager form of government would transfer the financial powers of the selectmen to a more qualified, full time professional with in-depth knowledge of Massachusetts law. I strongly support the town manager article, as does the government structure committee.”
L.C. Jenkins, VP of Cohasset Concerned Taxpayers: “In other towns this (a Town Manager) has helped to streamline and add a layer of efficiency and expertise that Cohasset is lacking.”
From Questions the TTG gets asked, 1997
Q. What’s the TTG’s read on the citizen’s article asking for a Town Manager in Cohasset. What are they trying to do to selectmen?
Gazette: They’re not trying to do anything to Selectmen. They’re trying to help them. Neither the Selectmen nor our volunteer boards are professional managers, they just happen to be citizens who live here. What if Gillette put a call out for volunteers to run its multimillion dollar company, wouldn’t that be stupid? Well, that’s how Tinytown is run. They’re all really nice people but they have no more qualifications to run a town than the publisher of the TTG.
Q. If only 1 (Peter Pratt) out of 5 Selectmen supports the Town Manager concept and the article passes at town meeting, how difficult will it be for the poor soul they hire to be Town Manager?
Gazette: In the how soon we forget category: when Selectmen Ronnie McMorris and Nan Roth campaigned for their seats just a short year ago they said they were in favor of a Town Manager form of government. Now that they’ve been presented with the actuality of it they’re reneging. Oh, they think it’s a good idea and it should be studied and maybe implemented someday after we’re all dead. If the Town Manager article is voted the selectmen will implement it and after they implement it and they get their Town Manager they will feel like they died and went to heaven.
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