Finance Committee, pt. 2

Yesterday's Amesbury News article on this proposed change reminded me of the fundamental reason that the Council is proposing to have the Finance Committee as a 'committee of the whole'--the MA Department of Revenue suggested that we do so in a 2001 report. Here is the relevant excerpt, in the context of 2000 Council Rules and Procedures:

We recommend that the Municipal Council act as an Appropriations and Audit Committee of the whole. The practice of assigning fiscal matters to a subcomittee of eight, which already includes five of the nine council members appears counter-productive. We suggest a more practical and efficient structure would have the 9-member Municipal council replace the current committee of eight, three of whom are non-elected participants. In essence, the Municipal council would act as an appropriation and audit committee of the whole. Council rules affording opportunities for participation by residents could remain in effect.

The report went on to recommended that the Council meet twice monthly, in order to be able to effectively discharge its responsibilities. This is what the proposed Rules change would do, create a financial committee of the whole, dedicating 1 meeting a month to appropriations and budget matters and the other 'regular' meeting, to initial and final approval of all measures, etc.

I note that the DOR report also continued the possibility of additional resident involvement, and the Council should consider that option, an expanded Committee of the whole.

[Note: I'd post the full DOR report, if I had it electronically but I don't.]