Norfolk & Wrentham November 2023

Page 4 Norfolk & Wrentham Local Town Pages | www.norfolkwrenthamnews.com November 2023
VOTE
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significantly less scrutiny and an
increased risk to effective town
operations and compliance with
regulatory and statutory requirements.
The Working Solution
Currently, when a mid-term
vacancy for an elected position
occurs (which is common), the
procedure to fill the vacancy involves
a joint meeting between
the affected board and the Select
Board. This involves interviews
with interested individuals
in open meeting. It has the effect
of providing more rigorous scrutiny
on experience and qualifications
than occurs with write-in
votes.
Under the proposed amendments,
this appointment procedure
would expand to all the
above positions except for the
Town Clerk. This is already
the procedure for the Appeals
Board, Conservation Commission,
Council on Aging, and
Recreation Commission. They
are all highly effective and
maintain the necessary independence
of action even though
appointed. This appointment
practice provides increased
scrutiny and is beneficial to the
affected board as it allows them
to recruit highly qualified volunteers
and provide their recommendation
to the Select Board.
The Biggest Challenge
Changing the Town Clerk’s
position from elected to appointed
is significant. This is a
position steeped in history and
tradition. But the job is much
more demanding in 2023 than
it ever was before. As an elected
position, the only requirement
is for the individual to
be a registered town voter. No
background or experience is required.
Our current Town Clerk has
done an absolutely terrific job,
and even more so when considering
all that has changed in
the last four years. But the next
Town Clerk will not be entering
a “clerks” job. The position has
grown such that it would more
appropriately be titled “Director
of Elections and Public Records.”
This is not an entry level
position. The need to direct and
manage all the changes to election
procedures (early voting,
mail in voting, etc.) as well as
increased provisions for properly
maintaining and providing
public records alone presents a
risk to the Town unless properly
done. This is not a job that allows
a learning curve.
For full disclosure, the CRC
is not unanimous on this proposal.
But the majority of the
CRC believe that by making the
position appointed, it not only
opens the field of applicants beyond
Wrentham residents, more
importantly it enables the town
to hire someone with experience
and a proven record. It is meant
to safeguard our election procedures
and your public records.
Summary
The proposals to change
elected boards and officials are
meant to be thought provoking.
In discussions thus far, the
primary argument against the
proposals is that they reduce the
opportunity for residents to vote
on important positions. There is
merit to this argument.
But the trends show that
there are fewer people that want
to run for an elected office at
the same time as these positions
are becoming increasingly complex.
With so many elected positions
requiring write-in votes,
and with the elected member
so often being chosen by a
number that is less than the required
number of signatures to
get on the ballot, this opens the
Town to a risk, especially when
considering the knowledge and
experience needed to adhere
to statutory and regulatory requirements.
Quite frankly, the
CRC would be extremely remiss
to not offer an alternative, especially
since the alternative is already
in practice and proven to
be effective.
Appointments for these offices
are becoming increasingly
common for towns in our
Commonwealth. Every new or
amended town charter that we
have researched for the past
five years has included these
changes. At least 130 towns have
transitioned from an elected
town clerk to an appointed position,
and the numbers are also
in line with the other boards
included in the proposals. The
CRC has received strong feedback
that the transitions have
been highly effective and have
become widely accepted once
implemented.
The proposals are intended
to provide and safeguard what
is best for effective, professional,
and compliant town management
going forward. The proposed
amendments are not a
reflection on past or current
performance but are to address
current trends and increasing
complexities going forward. It is
not about the last 10 years, it is
about the next 10 years.
This does not sacrifice tradition
or the right to vote. Our
town government is based on
Town Meeting as our legislative
body. Nothing in these proposals
changes that.
The proposed amendments
will be decided by the voters at
Town Meeting.
More information is at:
https://www.wrentham.gov/
government/boards_committees/charter_review_committee/
.
The CRC consists of Kevin Sweet,
Town Administrator; Cindy Thompson,
Town Clerk; Jim Anderson,
Select Board; Mike King, Town Finance
Director; and Jerry McGovern,
Chairman and Citizen-at-Large.
Thomas L. Beatty
M.D.
Karie DeVries
M.D.
Ann Dolloff
M.D.
Afarin Greiger
M.D.
Katherine Johnson
M.D.
Elizabeth Konig
M.D.
Emily Newton-Cheh
M.D.
Virginia Simmons
M.D.
Thao Thieu
M.D.
Sandra Reilly
W.H.N.P.
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