BCAT News

The following is a letter to the editor and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BNEWS. 

At the December 16, 2024, Select Board meeting, “A comprehensive study of the town’s form of government to produce a new charter” was approved. “A $15,000 contract has gone to the Collins Center funded by a state grant. (BCAT).

From the Board meeting, I understood that a government review project had been established in 2017, and a newly formed committee prepared a report for the Select Board. Delving into news reports and BCAT presentations, I thought of providing some history explaining steps taken before the town moves forward on the current project.

On November 15, 2017, “the Board agreed to appoint a committee to conduct a review of Burlington’s current municipal government to determine if change is needed in order to make the operation more effective and efficient.” (BNEWS)

On January 9, 2018, “The Board of Selectmen has appointed members to the new Government Review Committee.” (BCAT) The Board approved nine members to the committee: two Selectmen, four town meeting members, one member of the Board of Assessors, and two residents. The report from the committee was to be completed by June 2018. (BCAT)

Bob Hogan, Selectman, and Governance Committee member, stated the purpose was just a human resource issue, which is an adjustment to the town administrators’ powers that expanded powers to hire and fire. The committee was not discussing a city form of government. (1/8/2018 BCAT). He mentioned that the town had a Charter in 1970. A special act was passed to change from an open town meeting torepresentative town meeting structure.

The Headlines of the Patch reporting read on February 7, 2018, “Is Burlington Getting Ready To Become a City?”. “While the committee has only two meetings so far, it set a tone in its first meeting on January 24, 2018, that suggested it may look to do away with Burlington’s representative town meeting in favor of a city form of government.” (Patch)

In August 2018, the Government Review Committee’s report was presented to Selectmen. As a result, the Treasurer’s position was changed from being elected to appointed.

On June 11, 2019, the town received a letter from DLS (Division of Local Services) responding to a request to perform a Financial Structure review,” The Board of Selectmen appointed a government study committee to explore the structure of operations and provide recommendations. Our team met with the committee last summer to offer recommendations on how to approach the process and gather information to make recommendations. At that time, we also addressed the lack of a town charter. We recommend that Burlington adopt a charter that clearly defines the government structure under which thetown operates. It would document all positions, boards, and committees, establish distribution of power, and provide lines of authority. A charter would enable the town to institute structural changes, which would help meet the long-term goal of improved management and efficient operations.”

December 12, 2022, The Select Board Meeting. “The Burlington Select Board wants to investigate ways the town can better streamline its services and cut down on the amount of duplicity committees in town may be experiencing.” “Sometimes it feels our government is very fractionalized and like to see anything we can do to make it more efficient and effective, said Select Board member Mike Espejo. Board member Mike Runyan agrees with reconstituting a similar Government Review Committee. Runyan was a member of the original committee. He said there were a number of areas that were identified by it that he believes warrant further review, with lots of duplicity in some areas of town government and departments.” (BCAT)

March 27, 2023, The Select Board meeting. “Burlington Select Board Chair Nick Priest raised the prospect of a government review, a process by which the town could examine whether its form of government was working, and what changes, if any, might streamline municipal operations. The form of the government review could vary; in Monday’s meeting, Select Board members considered several options including a nine-member elected charter commission or a third-party contractor to make recommendations” (BCAT). Member Espejo mentioned the Collins Center as a third party.

This brings us back to the December 16, 2024, Select Board meeting. The Collins Center representatives stated, “Burlington currently operates under a patchwork of general laws, special acts, bylaws, and Town Metting rules. A charter, which can be considered the constitution of a local government, is one document that creates consistency and transparency. It’s an instruction manual.” Select Board member Nick Priest stated, “The goal would not be to radically transform the form of government, but rather to codify what’s working and offer suggestions for places where there’s overlap or “siloing” among town organizations.” (BCAT)

“The Board is now seeking between 5 and 11 members for a committee. The select Board would review any recommendations and pass on a draft charter or special act to Town Metting for a vote. A town-wide vote would be needed for final adoption.” (BCAT)

February 24, 2025. The Select Board meeting. The town administrator and the board member, Nick Priest, suggested that the committee should have more community members than in the past. The last review committee had two residents. The proposed mission statement given to the government review committee will be finalized at the March 10, 2025, Select Board meeting. In addition, the advertisement will inform residents that there will be open slots for the government review committee, and the process to be considered for joining the committee will be finalized at the March meeting (my notes per BCAT video).

James McNiff