Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee
Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2005
Present: Kelly Ault, Susan Clark, Nancy Reilly, Dave Shepard, Barb Whitchurch, Greg Whitchurch

1. Town Meeting Review
Approximately 140 people attended the 2005 Town Meeting.

In consideration of the discussion on health care that followed the close of the official Town Meeting Kelly questioned how there might be provision for more discussion of topics that aren't to be voted upon. One suggestion was to designate certain tables at the church supper where discussion of specified topics could take place. Another suggestion was a discussion session before the official beginning of Town Meeting.

Susan reported on the comments received about Town Meeting. One comment related to not being able to discuss the town budget. There was discussion of making it known to voters how much tax it would add for a hypothetical $100,000 house for every $1000 of spending that is approved. This had been suggested to do for the 2005 Town Meeting but it didn't happen. Possibilities would be for the Select Board to do this and put the information in the Town Report or perhaps the Town Meeting Solutions Committee (TMSC) could figure out the number and have the Select Board approve it. Some sentiment was again expressed for moving Town Meeting to Rumney School. Concern was expressed for a need to improve the sound at Town Hall.

Child care during Town Meeting was successful but there was some confusion over money matters this year. In the future, we will need to determine how to pay for this. Susan suggested meeting with Community Connections, Rumney School and the Select Board. Kelly suggested it might be possible to get a day care facility to help sponsor the childcare and to provide staff. Dave suggested approaching the Select Board about the town providing some financial support. Susan said she will meet with the Select Board to discuss feedback about Town Meeting and will bring this issue up.

2. New Middlesex Voter Letter
Among this year’s recipients of the welcome letter for newly registered Middlesex voters were Patrick and Marcelle Leahy, who previously had been registered to vote in Burlington. Susan shared a nice thank-you letter she received from the Leahy's in reference to the new voter letter.

3. Middlesex Web Page
As the new webmaster, Greg asked for some guidance and suggestions on the town webpage. Greg received some information from June on town officers and contacts. In some instances, this information was not completely up to date. Where TMSC members are aware of changes to the contact list they'll let Greg know and he will make the updates and corrections. Greg said he is fine with receiving material to go on the web on paper as well as electronically.

The calendar page was discussed at some length. Greg said he would archive past events. Kelly thought it would be helpful to figure out a way to include both general monthly events (from the Middlesex Operator's Manual) as well as specific events for the current month.

Greg asked about the possibility of posting community news items such as deaths, fires and situations where people may need assistance from community members. It was agreed that this topic would be discussed in more detail at a future meeting.

Susan suggested there might be town forms that could be available on the website in order to reduce the workload for the town clerk and assistant town clerk in having to mail these out to residents. Susan will contact June to see if this would be useful.

The possibility was raised of having an opinion page where residents could express their views on topics of interest to the town. Kelly suggested if this were to be done that it would be best to accept submittals on a given topic for a specified period of time and then that specific topic would come off the page rather than having an endless back and forth. She also thought it might be helpful to solicit opening comments from opposing sides on a given issue. Concerns were expressed over the possibility of an ongoing debate where there might be large gaps in time and potentially no response representing an opposing view. Overall, given the pros and cons there was not a lot of support for this idea.

Greg also requested a person or two that he could bounce webpage ideas and questions off. Susan and Dave agreed to fill this role.


4. Next Meeting
The date for the next meeting was set for April 19th at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

This meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.


Minutes recorded by Dave Shepard