Sharon Select Board Seeking Governance Study Committee Members

SHARON, MA — The Sharon Select Board is seeking volunteers to serve on a Governance Study Committee to pursue a comprehensive study of the local government.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to establish the committee due to recent demographic changes, efforts to boost economic development, and bylaw changes. The goal is to assure the town is making the best decisions regarding governance structure through deliberation and voter participation.

The town is seeking at least seven and no more that 11 voting members to serve on the committee until May 31, 2022. The committee is expected to make interim reports to the Select Board of its activities by September 28, December 1, and February 2 so recommendations can be added to the May 2 Annual Town Meeting Warrant by the end of February.

The following issues will be considered by the Governance Study Committee:

• Consider whether to increase the number of Select Board members from three to five and recommend a process for making an informed decision.
• Consider whether the town should change the form of the legislative body from open town meeting to representative town meeting or some other form and recommend whether the by-law section that sets the dates of town meetings and elections should be changed.
• Consider whether to recommend a process for evaluating and consolidating town by-laws into a charter document.

Those interested in serving on the Governance Study Committee can apply here.