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Vote sought on NA charter
Top Headlines Selectman wants document drafted for debate
NORTH ATTLEBORO - A charter laying out a switch to a mayoral form of government should be drafted and brought before voters, Selectman Michael Thompson says.Thompson said he would like to see selectmen form an independent committee made up of people with no prior connections to town government or reform efforts. The committee would be charged with drafting a charter to switch to a mayoral form of government, which could then be put before the town's voters, once and for all. "I'm prepared to put a committee together to make some recommendations on a mayor-town council form of government," Thompson said during Thursday's selectmen's meeting. "Then we should give the people the opportunity they never had - the opportunity to vote on that form of government." During the election season, Thompson never specifically called for a change in the town's form of government, but suggested he would be open to reforms. At that time, he suggested the fastest way to change government would be to change the people in it and said many of the town's issues were "personality issues, rather than government issues." Thompson said he has become frustrated since joining the board. "I still believe in my heart that the more people who are involved in government, the better, and the more people will understand the issues," he said. "But let's face it - it's just not happening." Thompson's comments came on the eve of selectmen's government reform meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m. Monday. in the selectmen's conference room. Some members of the board expressed frustration because selectmen held a similar forum last October, but no reform proposals resulted. "I want to make sure this isn't just going to be another meeting," Selectman Paul Belham said. "We should go right to the facts and start working from there." Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno said the board has changed its membership and promised action this time. Rhyno, once a staunch opponent of switching to a mayoral form of government, has also called for consideration of the idea. He is publishing advertisements in the local newspaper asking residents whether they favor switching to a mayor, changing to a town manager or leaving everything the same. Thompson pointed out that the town has considered changing to a town manager three times, and voters have rejected the idea soundly. "The town doesn't want it," he said. "Three strikes and we're out."
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realist wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:38 PM:
North Attleborough is smaller than Plymouth and Framingham. Both have the town form of government. In a quest for efficiency it's easy to trample people's rights. "
natownie wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:17 PM:
attman63 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:05 PM:
You see with such diluted responsibility comes diluted accountability. The beast has too many heads... "
realist wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:35 PM:
Among the objections were changes made in the Charter regarding the BofS oversight of the Electric Commission. These changes were inserted AFTER public hearing were held on what was to be the final document.
After the changes were made some members of the Charter Commission publicly opposed the document. "
skeptic wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:30 PM:
jdr wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:12 PM:
DANDYDON wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:30 AM:
realist wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:08 AM:
To start putting a committee together to consider changing the town to a city is doomed. You need to consider all options. There have been two charter commissions in the past 15 years. Both did good work but there were some problems that concerned the voters.
Many of the towns perceived problems could be handled by a computerized call tracking system. A central office in town hall could handle all incoming non-emergency requests. Each gets a number and the problem is assigned to the appropriate department. Each department in turn assigns the problem to an appropriate group or person. Then the supervisor receives progress reports on completed work and outstanding problems. The caller can track the progress via a web site or phone call. If the person who made the call asks, they can get a call back to make sure the issue is resolved.
Far-fetched? No - every service organization in America does it. Companies from IBM to your local oil delivery service uses this method to track and solve problems. People will be happy because they will know who is handling their issue. Pay raises could be based on citizen satisfaction. That will scare the unions. "