Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


ARTICLE 70
Warrant Article Title:
VOTE/TOWN CLERK STUDY
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote request and or appropriate a sum of money to study the options for conversion of the Town Clerk position from an elected to an appointed office; or take any action related thereto. 
Requested by:
(Inserted at the request of the Town Clerk) 
Report Excerpt:

The instant warrant article was inserted at the request of the Town Clerk, and the balance of the Board supports the Finance Committee’s vote to the appropriate up to $10,000 to conduct a community study on the conversion of the office of the Town Clerk from elected to appointed. The majority of the Board believes that the issue is worth study to evaluate the potential benefits of professionalizing the elected position, noting some of the benefits of converting the Town Treasurer to an appointed office several years ago. Several Board members stressed that supporting study does not guarantee a given outcome. The minority view expressed concerns about consideration of taking a directly-elected office away from voters.

 

*That the Select Board supports to Finance Committee’s Appropriation under this article.

 

(4 – 1) Ms. Mahon voted in the negative.

Vote Language:
That the sum of $10,000 be and hereby is appropriated for the purpose of conducting a study of the options for conversion of the Town Clerk position from an elected to an appointed office; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Town Clerk.