When voters changed the town's in 2007, the new post of town manager was created -- with the lions share of financial power.
Ware selectmen Gregory Harder, left, and John Desmond, seek a review of the town's government.WARE – Two selectmen and a resident have criticized the rules laid out in the town charter that determines how municipal government is run, saying there is less accountability over how money is allocated.
When voters changed the town’s charter by a 761-360 vote in 2007, the new post of town manager was created -- with the lions share of financial power.
“The board of selectmen has no control over the budget anymore,” selectmen chairman Greg Harder said at the Aug. 7 meeting. “I would say the charter has to have a review.”
Harder’s statement was in response to resident Bill Jackson, who said he believes that since the adoption of the new form of government, things are getting worse. He also noted that Ware is on its third town manager in five years.
“I tend to agree with you,” Harder said. “The charter went too far.”
Selectman John Desmond said at the meeting he also would like a fresh look at the charter. During his reelection campaign a year ago, Desmond said review of the form of government were among his top priorities. The board did not take a vote on the matter during the meeting.
The 2007 charter was written by a nine-member panel; the document contains procedures to amend it.
In other business, selectmen voted unanimously to direct Town Manager Stuart Beckley to try to sell the former school and courthouse on South St. next to Bay State/Mary Lane Hospital. The vote, which asks Beckley to prepare a request for proposals [RFP], also includes a clause that would keep town office at the current 126 Main St. location.
Town officials estimate the total cost to rehabilitate the former school and the town hall at $8 million each.
Beckley said bids from the RFP on the former senior center building on Church St. are due Sept. 10.
The town manager told selectmen he plans to discuss with department heads what should be down with the East Main St. fire station, built in 1939, once the department moves to their new quarters at the former Goldstein and Gurwitz farm machinery and equipment business on West St.
The current fire station “has a lot of storage space,” Beckley said.