Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee
Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2006, 7:00 pm

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

1. Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the April, May and November Town Meeting Solutions Committee (TMSC) meetings were reviewed and approved.

2. Australian Ballot Petition
A petition is being circulated to vote monetary items by Australian ballot rather than at a traditional Town Meeting. It is likely that this will be an item to be voted on at Town Meeting in March 2007. The committee discussed means to inform residents of this issue prior to Town Meeting and encourage them to attend Town Meeting:
•Kelly suggested phone calls to let people know there are some important issues to be voted on at Town Meeting, including the Australian ballot issue and encourage them to attend.
•Greg expressed concern that calls to people who don’t normally attend Town Meeting, particularly if they aren’t informed of the benefits of Town Meeting, might not result in many of these people attending Town Meeting.
•A letter to everyone on the voter checklist either from the TMSC or from a group of individuals who are concerned about the preservation of Town Meeting who would all sign the letter was proposed as another option.
•Some form of meeting was suggested with the question of whether a town-wide presentation at a single location, like Town Hall, or a series of “living room” meetings might be more effective? It was generally felt that a town-wide meeting would be likely to only attract those most supportive of either Town Meeting or the Australian ballot proposal. Susan suggested contacting some individuals who are supportive of Town Meeting and asking them to host a meeting where they would invite a few of their friends to attend. TMSC members generated a list of potential names to contact. These meetings could begin in mid January once it is confirmed if the petition has been submitted and if the Australian ballot item will be on the warning for Town Meeting.

3. Budget Charts for Town Meeting
Greg asked about creating budget charts for Town Meeting as was done last year. It was agreed it would be valuable to prepare these charts again this year. Susan will contact John Riley who assisted with this task last year to see if he is interested again this year.

4. Discussion with Bill Callnan
Susan reported on her meeting with Bill Callnan. He supported the idea of the TMSC screening the annual funding requests from charitable and non-profit organizations and coming up with a list to be put on the warning to be voted on. Susan explained to Bill that she thought the Select Board should appoint a group of people to perform this task. Greg offered that the budget information prepared for Town Meeting could include information on the service provided by these groups.

5. Contacts Sheet for Middlesex Operator’s Manual
The town contacts sheet insert for the Middlesex Operator’s Manual is in need up updating. Greg and Dave agreed to split up the contacts list and check the entries for accuracy and make any corrections they are aware of. They will present the results of this work at the next TMSC meeting.

6. Childcare for Town Meeting
Kelly and Susan will meet with Ann Gilbert from Community Connections.

7. Town Website
Tim is overhauling the website and showed the TMSC the results so far. All agreed it looked great. He estimated the new look of the site will probably be up and running at the beginning of the New Year.

Next Meeting: January 18, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Minutes recorded by Dave Shepard