Town Government Study Committee (disbanded)

TO: Westminster Residents
SUBJECT: Background Materials To Consider A New Form of Town Government
DATE: October 30, 2018

The Town Meeting approved the Master Plan in 2014.  One recommendation in that plan was to “review and analyze how Westminster’s town government is currently organized and make appropriate recommendations for re-organization that will enable town government to function with maximum effectiveness.”

The Board of Selectmen (BoS) appointed the Town Government Study Committee (TGSC) in March, 2016.  Since then, the TGSC has been working diligently to respond to this mandate from the Master Plan and the charge from the BoS through a variety of outreach activities, recruiting information from both the current government of Westminster and the citizenry at large.  As a culmination of these outreach activities and dozens of open meetings, the TGSC has compiled a series of documents to substantiate and support a proposal to be made at town meeting.  The material at the following three tabs were given or provided to the BoS on October 29, 2018:

  • Report to the BoS
  • Presentation to the BoS
  • Draft New Town Government Charter

Additionally, these materials have been posted online and are available on this page, in the menu on the left.

If you have any questions or comments, please send me an email at jffminott@aol.com or call me at 978-874-0462.

John
JOHN F. FAIRBANKS
Chairman, Town Government Study Committee

**If you would prefer to read a hard copy of the proposed Town Charter documents, printed versions can be found at the Forbush Memorial Library, Town Hall and the Community Senior Center**

 


Charge of the Town Government Study Committee

  1. Conduct an in-depth review of the town’s current organizational structure,
  2. Obtain information regarding various models of government structure from other Massachusetts communities similar in size to Westminster,
  3. Identify strengths and weaknesses in Westminster’s current form of government and areas for improvement,
  4. Recommend changes in the Town’s organizational structure, including but not limited to the terms of office and the method of selection of officials, consistent with the needs of the Town; for example, consider changing the name and duties of the Advisory Board to Finance Committee or changing the Town Clerk’s position from elected to appointed,
  5. Report its findings and recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and then Town Meeting within two years,       
  6. The ultimate goal of the Town Government Study Committee is to gain the support and confidence of the public through the creation of a new town charter establishing the framework for an improved structure of government for the Town of Westminster
  7. Provide recommendation as to which boards/commissions should receive a stipend.

If you have any questions or comments about the TGSC, feel free to email the Committee Chair, John Fairbanks at jfairbanks@westminster-ma.gov  

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