Who votes on what?
Town officials debate issue of creating positions
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Westminster Board of Selectmen and the Advisory Board members are debating the issues of what should and should not appear on a ballot compared to what should and should not be approved at town meeting.

During a recent Selectmen's meeting the officials on both boards debated the issue of placing all new positions on a ballot for approval from the residents that vote during special elections.

Advisory Board members are advocating for this approach because they are concerned about the ability for town meeting to override the advice of the town officials. A final decision is pending advice from town counsel but it will have to go to voters at a town meeting for a bylaw change.

Selectman John Fairbanks expressed concern about creating such a box that it leaves the town officials no discretionary room. He cites the creation of the town planner position as a decision made by the Selectmen to fund that had lost twice at the ballot box.

"Me, it's just my opinion, but I think it is the best thing that has happened in 15 years," he said.

Selectmen Thomas O'Toole said he is concerned by the will of the populous going against the advice of the town officials. He said he also thinks that there is a concern because people were approached on town floor about the way they voted.

"To me town meeting is the most open form of government," O'Toole said. "But I saw it destroyed last meeting."

Advisory Board members expressed concern about letting the small group of people that attend town meeting make the final decision on all of the issues.

Jim Delsile of the Advisory Board, said the issue is the town meeting it can be stacked or the vote can be controlled some other way.

Keith Harding expressed concern about the creation of the school resource officer through the town meeting vote, which was put on the warrant through a citizen petition.

Town Counsel is looking into how to, or if a ballot, can be created to allow this type of vote because town officials don't want to have these votes be Proposition 2 ½ votes because they don't want to increase the levy limits.

"We don't want to inflate the tax levy unnecessarily," Fairbanks said.