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Council names new school committee member |
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Friday, 06 November 2009 |
By ANDREW MARTIN
HOPKINTON – The Town Council appointed a new member to the Chariho Regional Building Committee to fill the void left by a former member who recently moved out of town.
Resident Dorothy Gardiner, of Hope Valley, thanked the council for the honor of appointing her to the Building Committee. She then said she would accept the position with the condition that the council supports her during her time on the committee.
“As you all know, I wasn’t in favor of the [Campus 2010 project], but now that we are committed to the project,” Gardiner said, “I want to make it the best we can and that is my intent to make it the best building, completed on time, and hopefully under-budget.”
Gardiner added that she will request all the information she needs, which ranges from the project’s budget to previous meeting minutes to details on the construction materials, to provide the town with reports and updates on Campus 2010.
The vote to appoint Gardiner to the Building Committee was 3-1, with councilor Beverly P. Kenney dissenting. She was opposed to the fact that the council did not advertise the vacancy as it typically does with other commission or committee openings.
Echoing Kenney’s thoughts was resident Carol Baker, of Ashaway, who is also a member of the Land Trust. She did not question Gardiner’s credentials, as she felt the new appointee was likely to be the best candidate for the position.
But Baker was concerned that the correct process was not followed.
“Was this position made available to the public,” she asked the council. “You are doing a disservice to the town if this was not [advertised].”
Baker continued to say that she knows the council advertises openings on every other board and commission in town. Then, she said, the applicants are interviewed and the most qualified person is appointed.
“I just feel that the process needs to be followed and adhered by,” Baker added.
Councilor Barbara A. Capalbo responded by saying that the council was unaware of how often the previous member of the Building Committee was absent from meetings. As a result, she said, there were several months or longer during which Hopkinton had one less representative on the board.
“This had to stop immediately,” Capalbo said. She added that members of boards and commissions should inform the town of when other members are frequently missing meetings so the council can act accordingly.
Members of the council also noted that advertising openings on boards and commissions isn’t required by the charter. They stressed the importance of the current Campus 2010 project occurring at the Chariho Regional School District Switch Road campus as the reason for streamlining this process. |
