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Committees: Government Study Committee

Email: GovernmentStudyCommittee@hingham-ma.com

Voicemail: 781-804-2666

(Appt. By Moderator ART 23, 2010)

Article 23: That the Town vote to direct the Moderator to appoint a Committee of seven citizens of the Town, knowledgeable in its affairs, one of whom will be designated by the Moderator as Chairman, to be known as the 2010 Committee to Review the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Town Government (also known as the 2010 Government Study Committee, which Committee shall examine all aspects of local government organization and structure, including, without limitation, regional relationships and the operation of all Town departments, boards, committees and commissions, elected and appointed, and recommend changes in such organization and structure, consonant with the traditional values of the Town, and designed to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of government services; which recommendations shall be made in a form suitable for consideration at the next Annual Town Meeting, or subsequent Town Meetings, and to authorize the Town to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for the expenses of such Committee.

Important Documents

Hingham Citizens Survey Summary and Results - Spring 2011

GSC Process Phase 1

Survey Responses

• 2006 School Building Committee
• Advisory Committee
• Affordable Housing Trust
• Bare Cove Park Committee
• Board of Assessors
• Board of Health
• Building Department
• Cable Advisory Committee
• Community Preservation Committee
• DPW Building Committee
• Elder Services
• GAR Hall
• Hingham Contributory Retirement System
• Hingham Public Library Director
• Hingham Public Library Trustees
• Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant
• Historic Districts Commission
• Historical Commission
• LRWDPR Committee
• Personnel Board
• Planning Board
• Police Department
• Recreation Department
• School Department
• Selectman Rabuffo
• Sewer Department
• SS Country Club Management Committee
• Town Administrator
• Town Clerk
• Town Moderator
• Treasurer/Collector

2010 Annual Report

At the 2010 Town Meeting, voters directed the Moderator to appoint a Committee of seven citizens, knowledgeable in Town affairs, one of whom was designated by the Moderator as Chairman, to be known as the 2010 Committee to Review the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Town Government.

The Committee was authorized to “examine all aspects of local government organization and structure, including, without limitation, regional relationships and the operation of all Town departments, boards, committees and commissions, elected and appointed, and recommend changes in such organization and structure, consonant with the traditional values of the Town, and designed to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of government services; which recommendations shall be made in a form suitable for consideration at the next Annual Town Meeting, or subsequent Town Meetings.” $10,000 was appropriated for the expenses of the Committee.

This effort follows a trail blazed by earlier government study committees in 1990 and 1999, each of which recommended reform and restructuring proposals adopted at subsequent town meetings.

During its first year, the Committee has gathered information from Town boards, departments and committees, seeking suggestions as to areas where we are doing well and areas where improvements might be made. We have met twice with the Board of Selectmen, and with the Moderator in public sessions at which others have been encouraged to participate. A website has been established, listing all reports and suggestions received to date. In addition, a broader survey of public opinion will be undertaken this Spring.

We have met with a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal Association to explore alternatives considered in other cities and towns which have recently reviewed and revised their governmental structure. Data from these communities, and others with which we traditionally compare ourselves, have been collected in order to discern emerging trends.

The Committee plans to review alternatives and, where deemed appropriate, recommend changes to the voters at the 2012 Town Meeting. We note that the League of Women Voters and others have submitted certain relevant proposals for consideration at the 2011 Town Meeting, on which we may take a position.