Town Meeting Survey
The South Hadley Town Meeting Review Committee would like your opinion on the following three issues regarding our Town Meeting. We appreciate your help and participation. Background info follows the three questions.
Question 1
There are good reasons to include or exclude ex-officio members as voting members of Town Meeting. Select one of the following:
- South Hadley should increase the number of ex-officio voting members.
- South Hadley should keep the number of ex-officio voting members the same.
- South Hadley should reduce the number of ex-officio voting members.
- South Hadley should keep ex-officio members, but make them all non-voting.
Question 2
There are good reasons to retain or to change the current town election date. Select one of the following:
- Elections should continue to be held on the first Monday in April.
- Elections should be held within a week after Town Meeting.
- Elections should be held in June.
- Election should be held in September or October.
Question 3
There are good reasons reasons to retain or to change the current Annual Town Meeting date . Select one of the following:
- Town Meeting should remain on the second Saturday in May.
- Town Meeting should be held later in May or in June, but remain on a Saturday.
- Town Meeting should be held on two evenings in May.
- Town Meeting should be held on two evenings in June.
- Town Meeting should be held on two evenings, one in May and one in June.
- I am a Town Meeting Member
- A former Town Meeting Member
- Never Town Meeting Member
Question 1 Background Information
The Town Meeting currently includes approximately 25 ex-officio members. These are individuals who are voting members of Town Meeting because they are members of certain other elected or appointed boards or committees, but are not actually elected Town Meeting members. Included in this group are the Town Moderator, the Town Clerk/Treasurer, the Tax Collector, the Town Accountant, all members of the Selectboard and the Appropriations Committee. Also included are the Chairs of the School Committee, Planning Board, Board of Health, Library Board of trustees, Housing Authority, as well as several other appointed committees. It has been suggested that ex-officio voting members might be reduced or eliminated. The pro’s and con’s are summarized below.
Reasons given for including ex-officio members as voting members of Town Meeting include:
- Ex-officios are generally knowledgeable about town government.
- Ex-officios often have many years of experience in town government.
- Ex-officios generally have detailed knowledge about their specific committee or department.
- Ex-officios typically are more involved in town government on a year-round basis.
Reasons given for excluding ex-officio members as voting members of Town Meeting include: (over)
- Ex-officios already have a significant role in formulating budgets and policy within their department and should not have a second opportunity to vote on their own proposals.
- Town Meeting Members are elected to represent the voters of their precinct, whereas ex-officios are elected or appointed to advocate for a specific department.
- Town Meeting is the legislative branch of town government and ex-officios all work or volunteer in the executive branch of government.
- Over the years, the number of elected Town Meeting Members has been reduced, but the number of ex-officios members has not been reduced.
Question 2 Background Information
Town elections are currently held the first Monday in April and the Annual Town Meeting is held the second Saturday in May. It has been suggested to change the date of the annual town election. The pro’s and con’s are summarized below.
Reasons given for retaining the current dates for elections:
- An early April election date gives new Town Meeting candidates (and other elected officials) ample time to become familiar with issues by the second week of May.
- Prospective Town Meeting candidates can become familiar with town budgets prior to actually being elected.
- Most people are familiar with the date.
Reasons given for changing the current dates for elections:
- An election in September or October would allow new Town Meeting Members (and other elected officials) to be responsible for the entire budget process from start to finish.
- State and national elections are held in the November, with primaries usually in September. Voter turnout might be better if held during a more traditional voting season.
- An election June would allow Twon Meeting Members (and other elected officials) to be in place at the start of the new fiscal year.
- Weather is more predictable in late Spring or early Fall than in early Spring.
Question 3 Background Information
Annual Town Meeting is currently held on the second Saturday in May. It has been suggested that holding the Meeting closer to the end of the fiscal year and/or on multiple evenings might be preferable. The pro’s and con’s are summarized below.
Reasons given for retaining the current Town Meeting date and format:
- The entire Meeting is usually completed in one day.
- Mid-May is a good time for Town Meeting because it gives ample time for an additional Meeting prior to the end of the fiscal year in the event that one is needed.
- Mid-May is a good time for Town Meeting because it is prior to most high school graduations, confirmations and vacations.
Reason given for moving Town Meeting later to the end of the fiscal year:
- The town is more likely to have better financial information from the State.
- Town committees would have more time to review budgets.
Benefits for changing to a multiple evening format for Town Meeting:
- Participants would not have to “give up” a Saturday.
- Conflicts with other events, such as graduations, confirmations, weddings, etc. would be less likely to occur.
- Non-financial issues could be handled on an evening in May and financial issues could be handled a few weeks later in late May or June.
- By providing a separate meeting time for non-financial issues, more time would be devoted to these important matters and better decision-making would result.
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