AMHERST – A proposal to hire a consultant who would assist the Charter Commission in its work over the next 18 months is on the warrant for annual Town Meeting, but commission members are not yet endorsing the request.
At its first meeting Tuesday, a divided nine-member commission deferred a vote on the article requesting $30,000 until its next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at a site to be determined, after concerns were raised by some members that the money may not be needed immediately.
The petition article was crafted by Andrew Churchill, unanimously voted to serve as commission chairman, based on the town spending $29,249 when it last formed a Charter Commission in 2001.
“I’d feel more comfortable if this is a commission request, rather than me asking for cash,” Churchill said.
He told the Select Board this week that the town government study, approved by voters at the March 29 town election, is an important undertaking that needs this financial support.
“My sense is we could save a lot of time and have a better product if we have a consultant,” Churchill said.
But commission member Margaret “Meg” Gage said she would prefer waiting until fall Town Meeting to make such a request, observing that a decision to operate without a consultant would give more credibility to the commission, which could focus on gathering input from the public and reviewing the contents of previous charter changes brought before voters, most recently in 2003 and 2005.
“It would build on the work we’ve paid for in the past,” Gage said.
Adjusting the amount being requested, or removing the petition article, would show respect for Town Meeting and an appreciation that there will be distrust from some of its members, said commission member Gerald Weiss.
“I’m concerned about this number,” Weiss said of the potential $30,000 request.
Hearing complaints that the town hires too many consultants, commission member Diana Stein said the Charter Commission should deliberate on its own before requesting money.
But other commission members disagreed. Mandi Jo Hanneke, elected to be the vice chairwoman, said not appropriating money for a consultant would hinder the commission’s ability to do work, and Julia Rueschemeyer said a consultant would help with the necessary community outreach.
Commission member Irv Rhodes was more blunt.
“We wait until fall Town meeting , we’d have eaten up six months. Is it wise to do that?” Rhodes asked.
Interim Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner said the request seemed an appropriate amount based on his experience with other charter studies.
“My comment is things cost more in Amherst because you like to do more process than other communities do,” Hechenbleikner said. “I’ve learned that in two months.”
Though Gage said it was wise to wait a week to make a formal recommendation on the article, Rhodes said such a delay “won’t amount to a hill of beans.”
Like the last charter commission, formed in 2001, the first meeting was used to elect the chairman, vice chairwoman and clerk. Nicholas Grabbe will serve in the latter role.
During the more than two-hour meeting, attended by about 25 residents, Lauren Goldberg, managing attorney at the town’s law firm Kopelman and Paige, provided a detailed overview of the commission’s work, explaining that it has wide latitude in recommending changes to town government that will be more responsive to the electorate – and which can get passed at the ballot box.
“The process is driven by what you want to do,” Goldberg said.
The commission has 16 months after last week’s town election to print a preliminary report in the newspaper, and 18 months to issue a final report to the Select Board and request a vote on changes for a ballot.
Goldberg said she would also be willing to serve as legal consultant and could come up with a plan and a budget.
“I like to be involved when I have the opportunity to do so,” Goldberg said.
The commission will use its next meeting to set a public hearing to solicit comments, mandated by state law within 45 days of the election, or before May 13.
Churchill said as chairman he will seek to have the best outcome for Amherst and encourage conversation by people of differing opinions.
“I don’t see myself as laying down the law as to how things are going to go,” Churchill said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
