Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee
Meeting Minutes
November 11, 2004
Present: Kelly Ault, Susan Clark, Dana Hudson, Ron Krauth, Tim Murphy, Nancy Reilly, Dave Shepard

1. Minutes of October 19, 2004 Meeting
Minutes of the October 19, 2004, Town Meeting Solutions Commmittee (TMSC) meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. Election Day Feedback
Committee members agreed that there was generally positive response from voters on election day to the updates to the contact list for the Middlesex Operator's Manual that were handed out by TMSC members.

3. Town Meeting Recommendations Discussion with Select Board
Susan attended a recent Select Board meeting to discuss the TMSC's recommendations for Town Meeting based in part on the responses to surveys handed out to voters at Town Meeting last year.
• Funding requests from non-profits:
The Select Board has asked the TMSC to work with Karen Greenwood, the assistant to the Select Board, on developing a listing of what information the non-profits who seek funding from the town need to include in a letter that will be printed in the Town Report. Susan will work on this and any other members who are interested are welcome to participate.
• Timing of Town Meeting:
Given the increasing length of Town Meeting in the recent years, the Select Board would like to explore starting at 4:30 rather than 5:00 but still hold the budget discussion at 5:15 as in past years.
• Town Report Dedication:
The Select Board would like the TMSC to solicit input on who this year's Town Report should be dedicated to.
• Impact of ballot items on taxes:
The Select Board is willing to work on an example of how much monetary ballot items will add to taxes as an amount per $100,000 of assessed value.
• Photo Contest for cover of Town Report:
The Select Board was supportive of this idea; TMSC will need to coordinate with June Lakin.
• Inclusion of contact list in Town Report:
The contact list from the Middlesex Operator's Manual can be included in the Town Report for any contacts not already listed.
• Moderator:
In consideration of the issue of having a Select Board member also be moderator of Town Meeting Peter Hood indicated he is willing to have someone else assume the post of moderator. It was agreed if Peter were to step down the town should seek someone with the right skills for the job and make for a smooth transition. Another option would be for Peter to act only as moderator for this meeting and the other Select Board members would need to present information on ballot items and answer questions from the perspective of the Select Board.
• Child care during Town Meeting:
Nancy has spoken with Liz Scharf about possible caregivers. One option might be to have a playgroup during Town Meeting at Rumney School. Various possible locations to provide childcare were mentioned: The Settlement Farm, NYNEX, the State Police barracks, a private school across the river in Moretown, Middlesex Playcare and Camp Meade. Liability could be an issue at some of these locations. Kelly proposed that if childcare were provided at Rumney School any money raised should go to the school. Dave mentioned Rumney School is offering certification for child sitting through Community Connections and this might be a source of caregivers.