Share This Article
The Select Board has adopted a positive practice of liaising with many town committees. To liaise is to communicate for the purpose of establishing and maintaining mutual understanding. It is to act as a neutral conduit of information; neither to influence nor to express positions on behalf of the Select Board that have not been discussed and voted.
The liaison from the Select Board to the School Committee, Member Carty, recently had an inappropriate discussion in a non-public conversation with the Chair of the School Committee, Ms. Burnard. He presented the idea that a Fall Town Meeting was held in 2023 with a goal of not holding a Fall Town Meeting in 2024. That statement exerts pressure on the School Committee Chair not to lead School Committee consideration of the question of a Fall Town Meeting in an unbiased manner, and not to focus clearly and primarily on the best interests of Sudbury Public Schools.
In addition, the idea that action in one year regarding a Fall Town Meeting will be the determinant of a decision in the following year flies in the face of our General Bylaws. CHAPTER 68, SECTION 3 is clear in directing the Select Board to open the question of need for a Fall Town Meeting EVERY YEAR to all, including town committees, by conducting a timely public hearing. Then the Select Board must discuss and vote one way or the other.
Is that not enough Select Board influence over the decision about holding a Fall Town Meeting?
If a liaison from the Select Board to the School Committee disregards established guardrails and meddles in the processes and responsibilities of the elected School Committee, should they remain in that liaison position? This was not a novice’s misstep as member Carty has served as liaison to the School Committee for many years. Perhaps that long tenure contributed to this problem. Member Carty serves diligently and well in various official capacities, however, in this case he has erred seriously.
The Select Board ought to correct itself and remedy this problem. They should consider assigning a different liaison to the School Committee with thanks to Member Carty for his service there heretofore, and start fresh with a new liaison, and with mutual respect for each committee’s responsibilities and autonomy.
Also, the Select Board should move forward in compliance with CHAPTER 68, SECTION 3 listening to all the stakeholders – residents, committees, and administrators. Then reach an unbiased, informed decision regarding the need for a Fall Town Meeting in 2024.