Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee
Meeting Minutes
June 24, 2003

Present: Kelly Ault, Wilson Brett, Susan Clark, Tim Murphy, Dave Shepard, Barb Whitchurch and Greg Whitchurch

1. Middlesex Website
Committee members reported on the response of other town commissions, committees and boards to the concept of a Middlesex website. The following groups all expressed support: the Planning Commission, Rumney School Board, Conservation Commission, Rumney School and Historical Society. The Rumney School Board told Susan they already have a website where they post their meeting minutes. June Lakin told Susan Middlesex has a place on some state website. The site was apparently created some years ago by a Vermont Technical College student and just has some very basic information about Middlesex.

Peter Hood was also supportive of the website concept but was concerned about different town commissions and committees having access to the website for the purpose of updating it. He suggested it might be possible to have a town staff person be the web manager. Greg expressed concern with it costing the town money to keep the site updated. Kelly suggested that commissions could pay a fee for this service. Wilson said if there is enough interest in having the website it will probably be possible to find volunteers to maintain it. Tim said he would be willing to do the work involved with posting material to the site. Wilson said he contacted U-32 about their interest in possibly helping to set-up or maintain the site but since school is out for the summer this question would really have to wait until school is back in session. Tim said the work with upkeep of the site, once it is established, would probably be on the order of two to three hours a month.

2. Old Fashioned Fair Day
Susan said the Committee will likely have a stack of Operators Manuals available at this event at a table shared with the Historical Society. We will probably not actually staff the table as no one seems to be available.

3. Facilitating Discussions
Kelly brought up the idea of hosting discussions in a comfortable setting on topics of interest to Middlesex residents. The goals would be to foster a sense of community and get people used to meeting and discussing issues as a prelude to Town Meeting. Wilson stated this is not a bad idea but that it might tend to draw the same people each time. Susan proposed that for each meeting we pick some people to call and specifically invite them to attend. There was agreement that the choice of topics would be important. Kelly indicated that the groups that would do the presentations would hopefully do a lot of the work and help with contacting people to attend.

Wilson expressed a concern with how to reach the less advantaged residents. He mentioned the idea of a community service award. Kelly supported this concept and suggested recognizing groups or individuals that have made a difference in town and trying to make them part of the audience for these meetings.

Some possible topics for a discussion series were proposed:
-a discussion of civility in Town Meeting discussions with some education on Robert’s Rules of Order
-wildlife issues
-village planning and design
-recreational opportunities

Next meeting: July 24

Minutes recorded by Dave Shepard