DiSalvo: Town Meeting in a New Era

Town Moderator Mark DiSalvo He addressed many questions on a variety of issues -- ranging from new Town Meeting rules to increasing attendance and Finance Committee appointments.

Here's a recap. And

Keeping it Fair

Comment From Richard: Mark, could you please discuss any changes to this years town meeting from past meetings?

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: There are several changes in "rules," the two largest around disclosure. Every speaker will have the responsibility to disclose if they or an immediate family member has a personal financial interest in the article under discussion. The other is that Town employees, appointed officials and elected officials must disclose that fact and whether they are speaking in an official capacity. We'll call it the "sunshine" rule.

Comment From Mary: Do you think having child care available at Town Meeting tilts the vote results in favor of the schools?

Mark DiSalvo:  Dear Mary, I do not. We strive to make the meeting accessible to all, and child care is a needed service so parents have some additional freedom and ability to attend Town Meeting. Fully 38% of the people responding to my survey said that the lack of child care kept them from attending. We need to be fair to all.

Encouraging Attendance

NAPatch: Do you expect Town Meeting attendance to be higher this year than previous years?

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: I have no way of knowing. Attendance is elastic - so dependent on the topic(s) under discussion. I hope that more attend as we expect to have several citizen-friendly changes.

Comment From Mike: There have been many warrant articles over the years to accept street x as a public way. What does this exactly mean and why might I vote for or against such a designation? This one area where I'd fault the previous moderator - for not explaining things.

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: Mike, clarity is important for every article. I will endeavor to make certain that it is a hallmark off this, and every, meeting. As to the question - I believe acceptance means that its residences are eligible for all town services and the town takes future responsibility for the road itself.

Comment From Larry: Do you expect people who were against you in the election to cause trouble at Town Meeting?

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: I don't see why. We had a spirited race and, while sometimes contentious, it was part of earning the job. Larry, I respect that people are passionate and if they wish to bring that passion to Town Meeting it will be welcome.

Comment From Clarence: How would you suggest changing Town Meeting to encourage more seniors to attend? Sitting at the high school all night is tough for many seniors.

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: Dear Clarence, there is overwhelming sentiment for the evening weekday meeting. My Town Meeting Survey showed that it is a strong preference. That said, we can and will improve its efficiency so that it is a more comfortable experience for all.

Comment From Mike: FYI - On many/most town meeting articles, I don't really know enough to have an opinion - at least a good one. For example, replacing some parts of the sewer/water system. You just see what the BOS or finance committee says and vote that way (or don't vote at all). The same goes for accepting streets as a public way. One of the reasons I don't attend town meeting is that for a great majority of the votes, I really don't have an informed opinion. (And for those votes I have an informed opinion, I have to listen to too much discussion after I've made up my mind).

Mark DiSalvo: Mike, let's fix that. An informed opinion is vital and it is the responsibility of the presenters to provide that clarity. Your simply asking a question is the greatest service to your fellow citizens. The power of a question and the answer received will inform all. As for when you make up your mind - we need to be courteous to allow all citizens to get there and then vote.

FinCom Appointments

NAPatch: Have you given any thought to who you will appoint on the Finance Committee yet?

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: Some. The responsibility of appointment comes after the conclusion of Town Meeting. If anyone has an interest please let me know. I will have up to three initial appointments this year out of the nine total members. FinCom is a tough but rewarding job.

NAPatch: As a follow-up, what kind of people are you looking for in Finance Committee appointments?

Comment From Mark DiSalvo: Interested citizens from a wide degree of backgrounds, professional skill, ages, gender, and life experience. Numeracy and financial skills are a given but the committee needs to work as a whole and represent the entire community.