BYLAW AMENDMENT / POET LAUREATE OF ARLINGTON

To see if the Town will vote to amend Title II, Article 11 of the Town Bylaws to: (1) change its selection criteria so that it is not required that a person be a resident of Arlington to be considered for appointment as Poet Laureate and if appointed, need not remain an Arlington resident during their term as Poet Laureate; and (2) formally establish that screening committee also provides the necessary support to the selected Poet Laureate at the beginning and throughout their term; or take any action related thereto.

Inserted at the request of Poet Laureate Screening Committee

VOTE: Favorable Action (5-0)

COMMENT: The Select Board recognizes the challenges presented by the current residency requirement for Poets Laureate as articulated by a representative of the Poet Laureate Screening Committee. To provide for a wider pool of qualified candidates, the Board unanimously recommends favorable action on this Article, which, if approved, would remove the residency requirement for selection and continued service as Poet Laureate.

With regard to the second part of the warrant article that contemplates codifying an ongoing role for the Screening Committee, the Board reached consensus to limit its recommended action to removing the residency requirement as described above.

That the Town does and hereby amends Title II, Article 11 of the Town Bylaws so that the new provision of Title II reads:

ARTICLE 11 POET LAUREATE OF ARLINGTON

Section 1. Establishment of an Honorary Poet Laureate of Arlington

There is hereby established for the purposes of advancing the literary arts, enriching the community, and recognizing the literary achievements of Town residents, the honorary position of Poet Laureate of Arlington.

Section 2. Selection, Term and Criteria

Appointment of a Poet Laureate shall be for a term of one year, annually renewable for a total of three years based on the recommendation of a screening committee of five persons consisting of:

a) A designee of the Library Board of Trustees (by majority vote);
b) A designee of the Arlington School Committee (by majority vote);
c) A designee of the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture (by majority vote) 
d) A former Poet Laureate starting with the most recent or a Town Meeting Member (appointed by the Town Moderator) if no former Poet Laureate is available;
e) A designee of the Town Manager (with advice and consent of the Select Board).

 
The screening committee’s recommendation for Poet Laureate shall be confirmed by the Select Board.

This honorary position shall be voluntary. Only Arlington residents shall be considered for appointment, and any person appointed as Poet Laureate of Arlington must at all times remain an Arlington resident during their term as Poet Laureate. In the event that a Poet Laureate is no longer a resident of Arlington during their term, the honorary position shall be construed to have been constructively vacated.

Section 3. Duties of the Poet Laureate

The duties of the Poet Laureate shall be to present original works of poetry, conduct readings and participate in public events and Town, public school and library programs as appropriate and practicable.