To spur discussion, the team’s preliminary responses to the questions will be posted on the town Website by Sept. 14.
SOUTH HADLEY – Residents are invited to a forum on three big administrative questions facing town government, on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium. The forum is sponsored by the Know Your Town group.
In the wake of the resignation of a permanent Town Administrator last summer, the Financial Policy Advisory Team has been considering these questions:
• What level of authority and responsibility should a new Town Administrator have?
• Does South Hadley need an Assistant Town Administrator?
• Should the Town Clerk-Treasurer and the Town Collector continue to be elected, or should they go through an interviewing and hiring process like other town employees?
Priscilla Mandrachia, chairwoman of the Financial Policy Advisory Team in South Hadley, said the questions were raised in a Financial Management Review by the state Department of Revenue in 2011.
That consulting service is offered free by the state, and the review was requested voluntarily by the town.
Now the advisory team wants to hear from residents. To spur discussion, the team’s preliminary responses to the questions were scheduled be posted on the town website by last Friday.
The consultants from the Department of Revenue, whose document also appears on the Website, recommended that the Town Administrator have a stronger role in town government.
To Mandrachia, that doesn’t mean more power. “What we’re talking about is responsibility and authority,” she said. “We want a clearly accountable position.
“When you want to run any business – and the financial aspect of a town is like running a business – you want to make sure that the lines of authority are clear and appropriate.
“That argues for a clear financial head, as opposed to mutiple heads.”
She adds that the change would be “purely operational, and does not impact the role of Town Meeting.” The people will still be voting on how money is spent.
In reference to the question on the Town Clerk-Treasurer, Mandrachia said the advisory team was also leaning toward making Town Clerk and Town Treasurer two separate positions, as they were earlier in the town’s history.
Those who can’t attend the forum are asked to send their opinions to Mandrachia at finpat@shadleyma.org.
Feedback from residents is an important piece of any decision, she said. “We want to be transparent, open and comprehensive.”