USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1950 > Part 5
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The work of the Committee culminated in a definite plan proposed to the 1949 Town Meeting which embodies both of these purposes in a
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building consisting of an auditorium and quarters for the veterans or- ganizations. The Town Meeting rejected this proposal, mainly because of the cost of such a special purpose building. and further because of a division of opinion amongst the veterans as to the desirability of a com- bined central headquarters. It was voted that the Committee should be continued to report further, and the Moderator refused to accept the resignation of the Committee. Subsequently he has prevailed upon them to make a final report covering their original purpose, namely a permanent memorial for the veterans of World War II, without the complexity of being joined with any other purpose.
The Committee recommends that the memorial to the veterans of World War II shall be an auditorium in a public building, and upon the interior walls thereof shall be mounted a roster, in permanent form, of the names of all known Weymouth veterans of World Waar II. It is the thought of the Committee that sometime in the future it will be neces- sary for the town to provide a large auditorium for the needs of the people, and that such auditorium should be dedicated for the purpose of this memorial.
Signed, by the Committee:
Francis A. Gunn, Chairman Mrs. Clara E. Wooten, Secretary Mrs. Alice F. Bates Mr. Joseph J. Connolly Mr. Minot E. Hollis Mrs. Helen U. Hughes Mr. Philip L. Pingree
The Chair expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the Committee for continuing and reporting findings to the people of the Town.
The following Report of the Committee on Town Manager and Plan E forms of Government was read by the Chairman Mr. James F. Terry:
This Committee was appointed by the Moderator of the Town of Wey- mount under Article 22 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for 1949, "To study the pros and cons of Town Manager and Plan E Forms of Government and submit a report and recommendations to the next Annual Town Meeting."
This Committee has held many meetings. It has received and studied reports of similar committees in a dozen or more towns. It has consulted publications of the Massachusetts Federation of Taxpayers Associations and other publications which describe in details both of these types of municipal government. The Committee has consulted with the Harvard University Graduate School of Public Administration, receiving benefits from their extensive research in municipal government. Discussions have been held with men who are not actively engaged as Town or City Managers.
The Committee has interviewed the Weymouth Board of Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, many of the Weymouth's Department Heads and other officials of the present town government. The object of these interviews was to seek pertinent information.
A Public Hearing was held at the Town Hall on February 2, 1950 in an attempt to determine public opinion and to gain information which would assist the Committee in making its decision.
To the many persons who gave of their time and their knowledge, the Committee extends its sincere thanks.
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The instructions to your Committee by the Annual Town Meeting 1949 were to study:
a. The Town Manager plan;
b. The City Form of Government, Plan E specifically;
and to bring to the Annual Town Meeting of 1950 a report and recom- mendations.
As it is therefore necessary to cover two entirely different forms of municipal government in this report, the Committee takes the liberty of discussing the City Form, Plan E, first.
CITY FORM-PLAN E
In Massachusetts, several Standard Plans of City Government have been set up by the Legislature, any one of which may be adopted by a city of this State. The provisions of these Standard Plans are complete and specific, and apply only where the city form of government exists. Towns cannot adopt any of these Standard Plans of City Government, unless they first agree, and are permitted by the Legislature, to become cities.
Plan E is the term commonly used to describe one of these Standard Plans of City Government-that plan under which the City Council and the School Committee are elected by the system of voting which is called Proportional Representation, and under which the city's business, except for school affairs, is administered by a City Manager who has been ap- pointed by the City Council.
If Weymouth should wish to adopt Plan E, it would be necessary to apply to the State Legislature for a City Charter, Plan E form. Assuming that the Legislature granted this petition, and that proposition was then accepted by the citizens by popular vote, Weymouth would acquire at its next following election:
1. A City Council of seven members, each elected in accordance with the proportional representation system, for a two year term;
2. A Mayor, who would be chosen by the Council from among their own membership and who would automatically become Chairman of the School Committee;
3. A City Manager, selected and hired by the Council.
The City Manager would appoint all department heads, and could discharge them at will, subject only to any applicable Civil Service regu- tions.
This City Manager could be discharged by the Council at any time, but would have the right to demand from the Council a written statement of the reasons therefor and a public hearing.
Under the Plan E form, Weymouth would no longer have:
a. The Board of Selectmen
b. Appropriation Committee
c. The Town Meeting
All privileges and duties now combined in these three bodies, including the appropriation of all municipal funds, would be transferred to the City Council, except that the executive authority would be exercised by the City Manager.
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In short, Weymouth, if it were to adopt Plan E, would become a City, and its administration would be the same as that now existing in Cam- bridge, Lowell, Quincy, Medford, Revere and Worcester.
It should be noted that, at the moment, the exact status of Plan E in Massachusetts, pertaining to Proportional Representation, is somewhat in doubt, as the Legislature is currently considering an amendment of this Section of the law.
Regarding the City form of government generally, your Committee believes that a great concentration of power in the hands of a few elected officials, while theoretically highly efficient, could be somewhat dangerous. One does not have to look far to discover the consequences of mismanage- ment and ill-advised financial policy, which follow the election to powerful administrative offices of persons who are poorly qualified for their respec- tive offices, but who have won these positions through their personal popu- larity of their impressive political campaigns.
Many of the cities in the United States which have been poorly managed, or where political corruption has been prevalent, under the Mayor and City Council, have adopted the City Manager plan as a remedy for their difficulties. In these cities where an able City Manager has been active for a reasonable length of time, considerable improvement has been achieved.
Your Committee has found nothing to indicate that a change to the City form of government would be advantageous to Weymouth at the present time. It has found no appreciable sentiment among the citizens of the Town in favor of such a change. It calls attention to the fact that no Massachusetts town has become a city in recent years. A careful screening of expenditures by the Appropriation Committee and the final approval by the Town Meeting provided in our present form of govern- ment constitute valuable safeguards against extravagance and waste.
Your Committee, therefore, does not recommend the adoption by Wey- mouth of a City Government in any form.
TOWN MANAGER FORM
Although the Town Manager form of government has spread widely in many States, acceptance by towns in Massachusetts has been slow. Up to November 1949, only six towns (cities not included, of course) had adopted and are now operating under the Manager plan in some form; one town had adopted and rescinded a Manager form; a proposal to adopt the system had been rejected in three towns. Committees, similar to ours, had made reports in about a dozen towns, four of which did not favor the Town Manager Plan. In several other Massachusetts towns, investigation is now being made by special committees. Four towns - Amherst, Ipswich, Stoneham and Wellesley - appear ready to accept the Town Manager Plan, with necessary legislation either being drafted or to be voted upon by the citizens this year.
In Massachusetts, there is no established pattern for the Town Mana- ger plan. Each town which desires to adopt this type of local govern- ment must write its own Enabling Act, setting forth, among other provi- sions, the duties and the scope of authority which will be given to the Town Manager. A very few restrictions are imposed by the Common- wealth-for instance, the Town Manager cannot be given authority over the School Committee, but, in general, each town may make whatever provisions seem best suited to its own special conditions. This Enabling Act must be approved by the State Legislature, then accepted by vote
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of the citizens of the Town. Since the time required for this whole pro- cedure is not likely to be less than two years, and may be much longer, it is apparent that a change of this sort cannot, in any case, offer an immediate solution of a temporary problem.
Under a Town Manager Plan, if it were adopted in Weymouth, the Board of Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, and the Town Meeting would continue to exist. A Town Manager would be selected and hired by the Selectmen, and would assume the executive and administrative functions which had been prescribed for him in the Enabling Act. The Board of Selectmen would thus be relieved of much of its concern over the details of routine Town affairs. It would become, to a considerable extent, an advisory board, lending assistance whenever possible, and keep- ing the Town Manager informed as to the Town's policies, customs, and experiences. Compared with a private business enterprise, the Board of Selectmen would correspond to the Board of Directors of a corporation; the Town Manager would correspond, in position and duties, to the General Manager of the corporation.
Benefits to a community under the manager system are generally ex- pected to be:
a. Better cooperation and coordination between departments.
b. Greater flexibility of personnel and equipment, resulting in better service and less time lost between jobs.
c. More economical purchasing.
d. Better long range planning and a better understanding of the true needs of the Town.
e. More systematic control over routine business, and the elimination thereby of all duplication of effort.
f. Some savings in the awarding of contracts for construction and repairs.
The degree to which these improvements may be felt in any com- munity depends upon existing conditions (before the Town Manager plan is adopted) in that community.
It should be remembered that a Town Manager is an executive; he cannot establish policies nor appropriate funds. These privileges still belong to the Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, or the Town Meet- ing. It is one of the Town Manager's duties to see that funds appropriated by the Town Meeting are spent wisely and well. Unless successful in this respect, he will not continue long in office.
With the great latitude of organization under the Town Manager plan which is possible in Massachusetts, no accurate estimate of the probable benefits to Weymouth under this plan can be readily made. Only two towns in Massachusetts have, at the present time, the "Strong Manager" type of organization, namely, Danvers and Saugus. Danvers has just begun operation under a Town Manager Plan; Saugus has had it in effect only one full year. No conclusions can yet be drawn, therefore as to how much real improvement can be expected under this type of administration. A few years hence, positive indications may be obtained from these two towns; in all probability, several other towns will. by then, have the manager plan in effect and will be showing some results from it.
A "Strong Manager" type of organization is one which gives to the Town Manager authority over all the Departments of the Town with the exception of the Schools. This, of course, would require a man with ability, training and experience.
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Another form of Town Manager organization would be similar to that of the Town of Norwood. This form allows the Town Manager authority over only a few departments, making him virtually an Assistant to the Selectmen. The Committee feels this form is inferior to the so-called "Strong Manager" form of government.
It would be necessary that a Town Manager be protected, as far as may be possible, from all influence or pressure of political nature. How- ever, despite any protection afforded by a provision in the Enabling Act for removal only after a public hearing, a Manager, in practice, would have to depend upon the continued support of his actions by the Selectmen and/or the general body of citizens. Without this support, his value to a town would be doubtful.
In reviewing the present state of affairs in Weymouth, your Committee finds that a fair degree of goodwill and cooperation already exists among the departments of the town.
It appears to your Committee that the affairs of Weymouth have been well planned and well managed under the present form of government, and that good value has generally been received in return for the moneys and effort expended. This opinion, independently reached by your Com- mittee, is well supported in the Preface of the Recommendations of the Appropriation Committee for this Town Meeting. A long range program has been laid out carefully and has been followed closely, the true success of which is to be perceived only upon close investigation, but is no less real on that account. There are naturally some places where improve- ments could be made; some of these have been pointed out to your Com- mittee. The belief exists, however, that the remedies needed can be ob- tained without any significant change from our present form of adminis- tration.
In Weymouth, at the present time, the School Department's general ex- penses, not including construction of new buildings, are about one quarter of the total annual budget of the Town. By regulations of the Common- wealth, expenses of the School Department, excepting only maintenance of buildings and purchase of miscellaneous supplies, could not be con- trolled by a Town Manager.
It should be borne in mind that a Town Manager would have little opportunity to control expenditures, other than for administration, for such things as Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, Veterans' Services, Outside Relief, State and County liabilities.
It is hardly likely that a Town Manager would be able to effect much alteration in the salaries or wages of Town employees. Public sentiment, as expressed in the Town Meeting, comparative rates in other Towns, and other considerations, would prevent many economics in this direction.
A Town Manager might conceivably make more efficient use of the personnel and equipment of the Town. He might effect some savings by failing to fill unnecessary positions upon retirement of the incumbents. He might be able to save the Town some money through purchasing sup- plies and materials in larger quantities, or at a more advantageous time, by anticipating needs. (It may be noted here that the purchase of sup- plies and equipment for our Street Department has for some years been satisfactorily and economically handled by a Purchasing Committee of three citizens appointed by the Moderator). He might save in his handling of contracts for new construction or for repairs. Your Committee, how- ever, does not think that large savings along these lines could be made through the employment of a Town Manager in Weymouth.
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It is perhaps a significant fact that, usually, the demand for a Town Manager has arisen from obvious mismanagement and corruption. A Town Manager has, in effect, been called upon to straighten out difficulties that were beyond the control of existing authorities. Your Committee is pleased to report that this condition does not appear to exist in Weymouth at the present time, nor does your Committee find any popular demand for a change to the Town Manager Form of Government in Weymouth.
Your Committee believes, however, that valuable information may be gained by observing results of the "Strong Manager" form of administra- tion in other towns, during the next few years, particularly in towns whose characteristics are similar to those of Weymouth. Your Committee also believes that any change in the form of government of a municipality should be made only after full and deep consideration, and with complete understanding of the principles, the advantages, and the penalties involved.
CONCLUSION
Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Town of Weymouth continue in its present status until more conclusive evidence appears that a change to any form of city government or the town manager form of government would be of material benefit to this community.
Your Committee wishes to offer the comment that the degree of suc- cess achieved by any unit of government under the American System is, to a large extent, determined by the citizens themselves, through the character, ability, and integrity of the persons they elect to public office. When the citizens themselves insist that well qualified persons shall be nominated for elective offices, and when all, who have the right to vote, use this privilege with the care and consideration it deserves, and with the firm intention of electing only those persons who are best qualified, then good government will result.
Respectfully submitted :
James F. Terry, Chairman Raymond O. Hollis, Secretary Frank M. Bryant Russell F. Cowing Kenneth O. Hanson William G. Shober Elliot P. Thayer
Mr. Terry passed out copies of the foregoing Report to Town Meeting Members.
A rising vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Terry and his fine Committee for a most comprehensive and well presented Report SO VOTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 3. That the Town Treasurer wth the approval of the Select- men be and hereby is authorized on and after January 1, 1951 to borrow such money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the fiscal year beginning January 1, 1951 and to issue a note or notes therefor pay- able within one year from date of issue and that any debt or debts in- curred under this vote be paid from the revenue of the fiscal year in which they were contracted.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 4. No action.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
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MOVED :
ARTICLE 5. That the Selectmen be authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of personal property and any real estate of which the Town has possession or title including all property taken for non-payment of taxes, all such cases of sale to be made by public auction or private sale as the Selectmen may deem for the best interest of the Town and that the Board or Officer in charge of any other Town Department may with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, sell at public auction or private sale as the Board of Selectmen may approve, any personal property belonging to said Department which in the opinion of the Officer or Board in charge of the Department is no longer needed by the Town and which in the opinion of the Selectmen is not needed by any other Department. Pro- vided that in each case involving real estate a majority of the Planning Board and a majority of the Park Commissioners vote to concur in the opinion that the property will not be needed for parks, playground or other public use.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 6. That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to accept conveyances or mortgages of any real or personal property belonging to persons receiving relief from the Town and to dispose of said property under the provisions of Article 6 of this warrant in such manner as they may deem for the best interest of the Town and where said property is subject to any encumbrances if they consider if for the best interest of the Town to discharge such encumbrances, they are hereby authorized to do so.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
The question was raised as to a quorum. A count revealed 119.
Town Meeting Members present of the 126 required for a quorum.
MOVED to adjourn this Meeting until Wednesday, March 8, at 7:45 in the evening.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING
March 8, 1950
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order by the An- nual Moderator, Mr. Daniel L. O'Donnell, at 7:45 in the evening.
There were 185 Town Meeting Members present.
Invocation was offered by the Rev. Elbert D. Holmes, Pastor of the Trinity Episcopal Church, Weymouth Landing.
There being no objection, we continue with consideration of the Ar- ticles in the Warrant.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 7. That the Town accept the several reports of the Select-
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men laying out as town ways the following designated private ways and parts of them to wit:
Chisholm Road Lane Avenue Third Street Holmberg Road
Scott Road off Lake Street Clark Road Mount Vernon East Extension
Walker Street
and the Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized to acquire by gift cr purchase or take by right of eminent domain in fee or otherwise for all purposes of a public street and highway in and over each of said streets as laid out and accepted and that the sum of $11,875.00 be raised and appropriated for materials and the working of the above named streets including the acquisition of the fee above referred to and for the building of any bridges, drains or conduits or securing easements which may be necessary in connection therewith and that the Board of Selectmen are authorized to accept deeds of any reservation strips existing in connection with any of said streets, and provided further, that no work shall be done on any of these streets until 90% of the abutters, or 100%, if, in the opinion of the Town Counsel that becomes necessary, have signed, executed and delivered to the Town Counsel proper releases. Provided further, that the final naming of those streets accepted must meet with the approval of the Planning Board and the work on these streets shall be performed under the direction of the Superintendent of Streets. $11,875.00
Mr. Kelly asked if Colonial Road and Whitman Street Extension were included in this Article. Mr. Lane advised Colonial Road is, but that Whitman Street Extension appears in a later Article.
Note: Of the above sum, $2,100.00 of which shall be for the purpose of constructing Whitman Street Extension under Article 14. The list of private ways and parts of them to be worked under this Article shall in- clude John Quincy Lane, Colonial Road and Abigail Adams Circle and read as follows:
Chisholm Road
Colonial Road
Lane Avenue
Scott Road
Third Street
Off Lake Street
Holmberg Road
Clark Road
John Quincy Lane
Mount Vernon East Extension
Walker Street
Abigail Adams Circle
includes Whitman St. extension to Lake St. See Art. 14.
Comes the question on the Appropriation Committee's motion under Article 7 in its entirety.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 8. That the sum of $4,000.00 be raised and appropriated to reconstruct, resurface, widen, straighten or repair by the Highway De- partment or under the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 90 for maintaining, repairing and improving the following street or any portion of it $4,000.00
Broad Street from Madison to Middle and/or Union Street
Provided that the State or County under General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 90 will pay a sum of money proportionate to the cost under the
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provisions of said Chapter; reimbursement from the State or County to be restored under their receipt to the Excess and Deficiency Fund and provided that the Board of Selectmen is authorized to acquire by gift or purchase, or take by right of eminent domain in fee or otherwise, for all purposes of a public street or highway in and over said streets and that authority is hereby given for building any bridges, drain or conduits, cr securing any easements which may be necessary; and that the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to accept deeds of any reservation strips existing in connection with said streets; and provided further that all damages resulting or occasioned by the construction shall be a charge against the sum appropriated.
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 9. That the sum of $6,000.00 be raised and appropriated for maintaining, repairing or reconstruction of the following streets or any portion thereof : $6,000.00
West Street
Provided that the State or County under General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 90 will pay a sum of money proportionate to the cost of con- struction under the provisions of said chapter; provided further that this work shall be done by the Highway Department; and provided that the Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized to acquire by gift, or purchase or take by right of eminent domain in fee or otherwise for all purposes of a public street or highway in and over said streets and that authority is hereby given for building any bridges, drains or conduits or securing any easements which may be necessary and that the Board of Selectmen is authorized to accept deeds of any reservation strips existing in connec- tion with said streets; and provided further that all damages resulting or occasioned by the construction shall be a charge against the sum ap- propriated.
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