Editorial: Elect or Appoint?

What's the right thing to do about the Finance Committee (FC)?

Sometimes history lends perspective.

The first Stockbridge moderator, Timothy Woodbridge, was voted in on July 11, 1739, with no enumerated duties beyond running the meetings. The first Finance Committee (FC) was created in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1870 — 131 years after Woodbridge first swung the gavel.

Many have wondered why the FC is appointed by the Town Moderator — it isn't always. In Alford and Great Barrington, the FC is elected. In Lenox, the Moderator makes suggestions to the Select Board (SB) and the SB appoints. In Lee, without the Moderator involved, the SB appoints. The FC in Worthington, Massachusetts, one of the earliest established, has five members that are elected to three year overlapping terms. In short, the 292 towns and 59 cities in Massachusetts each do it differently. "All communities in Massachusetts are required to have a finance committee. Its members may be appointed or elected. When appointed, the appointing authority is usually either the town moderator and or the board of selectmen."

All this begs the question: why would the Moderator ever appoint the FC? Once upon a time, it made perfect sense because once upon a time, the main function of the FC was to prepare a budget for Town Meeting (TM) and advise TM on all warrant articles that were financial matters. So, in a way, FC was an advisor to Town Meeting under the control of the Moderator.

Times change: In 1910 the Massachusetts General Court acknowledged the need for municipal finance committees state-wide and Chapter 39, section 16 was added to the Massachusetts General Laws.

"Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds ten million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town..."

The law says the choice is ours. Today in Stockbridge, the Town Administrator prepares the budget, the SB selects the articles for the Warrant, and FC advises the SB. So, the people decide what makes sense for us going forward. Whatever the outcome, the question should be on the Warrant so, at TM, the people can debate and decide.

Carole Owens
Managing Editor

Photo animation: Lionel Delevingne