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Description of Boards & Commissions in 2010 Contested Races

Written by Webmaster

Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:57

Here's information about the groups for which there are contested races in town this spring 2010.

Planning Board, Housing Authority, and Trustees of the Public Library

The following descriptions are excerpts from the 2008 Annual Town Report Year Ending Dec 31, 2008; 220th Edition, except where noted.

Planning Board

The Westborough Planning Board carries out its duties and responsibilities under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL). In 1936, the State Legislature decided that local governments should have power over the developing character of their communities. This power was formally enacted under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, Section 81-A.

The responsibility and authority of local Planning Boards as governed by MGL, Chapter 41, require that the Board should establish goals and objectives for future growth of their Town. The Planning Board shall make special studies, (Chapter 41, Sections 81-C), and when necessary prepare plans of the resources, possibilities, and needs of the Town concerning issues that the Board believs requires such consideration. These studies could consider any of the elements of the master plan, examined in greater detail as an individual study, or could consist of a detailed study of: a portion of the community, population growth, housing, economic issues, or other studies that the Planning Board deems appropriate.

The Planning Board continues to strive to protect the Town’s diminishing open space and natural resources.

Housing Authority

Westborough Housing Authority is a politic, corporate and duly organized public housing agency. State and Federal lawmakers promulgate rules and regulations by whch Westborough Housing Authority must follow. Westborough Housing Authority receives funding from the Department of Housing and Communities Development (DHCD) to administer all programs.

A Board of Commissioners oversees the Authority by providing leadership, establishing policy and advocating for current and future housing. As public officials, they hold monthly meetings according to M.G.L. chapter 39 setion 2B of the open meeting law. A schedule of date and time of meetings are posted with the Town Clerk.

The daily administrator responsible for day-to-day administration of all the State programs is the Executive Director. Together the Executive Director and Board of Commissioners form a powerful force in serving those in need within this community.

Public Library Board of Trustees

[Note: while I was unable to find information specific to the duties of the Trustees of the Public Library for our town, I was able to locate the following description from this page (http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/trustees/trustees_handbook/ch01.php#d0e319) on the web site of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (http://mblc.state.ma.us/index.php).

The Public Library Board of Trustees

Public libraries have played a key role in Massachusetts' cultural and economic development for more than one hundred and fifty years. Libraries serve as a focus for intellectual growth, research and learning for people of all ages. Through libraries, cities and towns provide collective access to books and other resources which no individual could hope to afford.

The public library is a center of lifelong learning for everyone in the community, providing access to the ideas of the past and the present, as citizens determine their futures. Information is organized, collected and disseminated with the goal of providing free and public access for every person regardless of age, race, physical ability, gender, or creed. The Institution of the public library serves the noble role of the great equalizer, allowing all citizens the opportunity to improve their lives through self-education.

As we enter the 21st century, libraries must continue to serve as intellectual and cultural centers for their communities by maintaining strong collections of books and periodicals. At the same time, they must also provide access to an expanding world of information and keep pace with changes in information technology. It is clear that libraries can and will play a critical role in preparing Massachusetts residents to meet the challenges of the future.

A library board of trustees, in some communities referred to as a board of directors, is a group of citizen volunteers to whom the governing of a public library is entrusted. Board members are the vital link between the library and the community. Trustees are library advocates and leaders in developing service willingly, responsibly and creatively for all members of the public.

Each trustee brings to the board certain strengths: skills, talents and personal experience which uniquely serve the library. Expert knowledge in a professional or technical discipline is valuable for specific undertakings. Some boards must rely almost entirely on their members for advice in such fields as construction, law and finance. Conversely, others may make extensive use of consultants, advisory boards or volunteers.

The board as a whole should represent a broad spectrum of the community. A board consisting of diverse viewpoints assures that the library will serve the total community. Certain competencies necessary to accomplish the board's goals should, ideally, be present in the total composition of the board. Issues and decisions involved in the administration of the modern public library are varied and complex.

Successful trusteeship creates a working relationship with the community, library staff and fellow trustees. Trustees take their responsibilities as public officials beyond the library board room. An effective trustee is one who participates intelligently in the entire political process: understanding municipal finance, local budgetary pressures, personnel concerns, and the administrative practices of the municipality as a whole. A library board which recognizes that the library is not an island, but part of a larger municipal structure, will build stronger partnerships within the community it serves.

What constitutes an effective Board?

An effective public library board of trustees consists of informed and dedicated citizens representing a cross-section of the population who govern the library for the benefit of the community. The board fulfills ethical, legal and fiduciary responsibilities by:

Employing a qualified library director and understanding the director's roles and responsibilities
Setting service-oriented library policies which uphold the principles of equal access to information and the free exchage of ideas
Guiding the management and maintenance of library facilities and assets and expending financial resources judiciously
Working to secure an appropriate funding level for facilities, technology, hours of operation, collections and staff
Knowing and observing applicable municipal, state and federal laws and regulaltions
Working with the community to identify information needs and to develop and implement a written plan for the maintenance and improvement of library services
Seeking and applying resources and training which expand trustee skills.

Collectively, a Board of Trustees should have: