1949-03-21 Annual Town Meeting Minutes

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Annual Town Meetin , March 21, 1949 ANNUAL TOWN ~..TING Security Hall March 21, 1949 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Charles P. Howard, at 7:48 P.M. ".i+h=e,new Town Meeting Ambers were requested to stand and be sworn to office by the Torn - odera'tor. The Karr€ nt s 'art ially mead by the Town Clerk when on motion of rennet' C, L th;~ it was voted to dispense with the further t\ reading o t;:l •.rran for the Constable's Return, l~ except L tiv h1c.'1 was then read by the Town Clark. Article 2. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to take «r Article 2 from he able. The following report, was read by Edward mslie REPORT OF THE `v 1.L+TR::E T0 TU_)a, 11.i _ &Aa&l FORM to ~ TOWN GO 12 To the Citizens of Reading: Your committee was authorized by vote of the Town mee' n held March 15, 948 ~~.,0 i"'l,:.tr" a study of the 1,ianc'zer tQ.'`'m of io1!;:n Govern- ment and to report w t t.i 'eco`r;: encd.at I_L ons. 1'iie,,ifoers of the Committee have attended conferences on the subject sponsored by the :School of Government of Boston University, the Graduate School of Public ;.1d Lnry str at•ion Pr d University j and , ]ne Community Development Cc- } t t,ee of the l qn d Council. These conferences were largely Lt tended b members oZ several official town study co;nmittees and interested town officers, l iclud g Select- man and x:1,'4`tt>ers of Finance Committees. Many informal conferences were 'gel S`,'it, i recognized authorities on municipal goverment n finance. The committee met with the card of Selectmen of lsa,tin to obtain the benefit of the view points of he members o that Board. Brief hist2r.1 oy Manager Plan. It has been in existance for forty years. There are about 800 communities throughout the United States operating under a Manager at the present time. About one in five of all cities and towns in the 10,000 to 25,000 population group have adopted the Plan. There has been over one hundred percent growth in the Plan since 1930. Only 32 communities have abandoned the plan since 1908. The study has brought out that the 9 ?c -er Plan varies somewhat in de tails but follows a well defined :^attern. The Plan consists principally of a small Council elected at large which determines all l municipal policies and a Chief Executive or Administrator called the Town Manager, who is appointed by and directly responsible to the Council. in "oadinZ v Council would undoubtedly be ~ rd Selectmen. in this Cc nmonwll sith, authority fop any change in basic toL"- overn:'?e?nt vert3 in the Legislature. At the present time no standard c> Town form of nc er 1. rvover,nr:ient. .aa k?G-en established. Several such plans were . e con-Adored during i,1.1e past year, but !n.C?nf:; a7,.1`")teda i_'"1'^' c,,'Qlitag Acts were p - >s,_%d for the benefit of several towns by the last; session of the jei ,_p .l Court on. petition o . Uhe respective towns including %>a tuss, an.atit and Methuen. The Act was accepted ?::1'j the first named town ant the plan is now in effect. The citizens the