Fall Town Meeting: Super Caucuses and Moving the Question

It’s almost time. 

Fall Town Meeting in Plymouth. It starts this Monday, October 24 at 7:30 pm in the auditorium at Plymouth North High School.

I’m exhausted from all the preparation…but predictions are it will be quick and painless.

The Town Moderator’s Town Meeting Preview was on PACTV last night. We held our second of two caucuses earlier this week to review the articles with the petitioners, and receive public comment. I’ve read the recommendations of the Advisory and Finance Committee, watched the Board of Selectmen review the articles, and watched the Committee of Precinct Chairs talk about the articles on the warrant.

I’ve received e-mails and letters and phone calls from various constituents asking me to support various articles, and in each case I’ve contacted the person to discuss.

I’ve followed the news coverage on WATD, the Old Colony Memorial, and of course, Plymouth Patch.

At every civic event I’ve attended over the past couple of months, I’ve had many conversations gauging public support of the various articles.

Although I feel pretty confident on how I expect to vote on each piece of legislation, I keep my mind open right up until the second I have to vote. Despite all the preparation and review that goes into each town meeting, there is some magic when debate opens on the floor. With 126 reps, all the town department heads, the petitioners, the town managers, the experts, the moderator, and everyone else that attends town meeting, speaking, debating, pleading, explaining, it is quite possible that after a night of debate you may change your vote from what you originally intended when you started the night. And that’s a great thing.

One thing I’m grateful for is my precinct holding two caucuses, and not being a part of a “Super Caucus.” Each precinct must hold at least one caucus before Town Meeting, and this is to review the articles, invite the petitioners, supporters, protesters, and town departments to make presentations, and invite the residents to come and voice concerns or ask questions.

With 9 reps in a precinct, and often more than 20 articles up for vote in a cycle, we found it difficult to schedule all the presentations, ask questions, and take in public opinion in just one night. So we opted to do it over two nights, and we’ve done it for several years, and it’s worked out well.

I saw one “Super Caucus” that had 4 precincts in attendance. They covered all of the articles in one night. With 36 reps on hand. I can’t imagine each rep getting to ask all the questions they wanted to, or all the residents having a chance to speak or ask questions, or all the presenters being able give a full
presentation. It just seems like a lot is lost trying to cram so many people and articles into one small meeting.

When the future of Plymouth is in your hands, when the articles you vote on are going to affect the quality of life for residents, when your vote is going to change the footprint or character of the town, when your vote is going to affect what the residents pay in taxes or receive in services, then I consider it to be essentially important that you are as informed as possible before making your vote, and that means not cutting corners by holding a super caucus.

A good example would be 2011 Spring Town Meeting. The article that would have allowed car dealerships in Colony Place did not pass. Many blamed this on the town’s environmental manager not being available to give his opinion on town meeting floor, which left key unanswered questions.

At our first spring caucus, the environmental manager was in attendance, gave us his opinions, and took 45 minutes worth of questions from reps and residents. When we were at Town Meeting, our reps were well informed and able to place a vote confidently, because we were able to do our homework ahead of time.

Lastly, while I consider Ken “Move the Question” Howe a close friend, I do think it’s important to allow debate on the floor to proceed until everyone has had their say. Sure, there are times when I’ve made my mind up, and no amount of further debate is going to change my mind, and I’m frustrated that even though I’m ready to vote, there is a line of people waiting in the wings to speak. And I admit, sometimes the people who are speaking are not adding anything new or compelling to the debate. But I think it’s important, before making a decision that will affect the town and its people, that everyone has the chance to be heard.  You may not like what they have to say, or the patience to listen to them, but if someone feels strongly enough to speak before the entire legislature, than I think they deserve the right to be heard.

It’s not too late to let your reps know how you feel before Monday’s Town Meeting. Here is a link with phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the town meeting reps: http://www.plymouth-ma.gov/Public_Documents/PlymouthMA_TownClerk/Elected%20and%20Appointed%20Officials/tnmg2012.pdf