Members:
Jonathan Keyes (Chair)
Nancy Cronin (Vice-Chair)
Pat Sinnott (Clerk)
Walter Birge
Reinier Beeuwkes
Don Bracco
Paul Horwitz
John Mannheim
Liason:
Carmin Reiss(Board of Selectmen)
Jim Phelps (Board of Assessors)
Local Option Local Income Tax Committee
Adopted December 1, 2008
MISSION
It is the intention of the Selectmen, in creating the Local Tax Fairness Committee, to provide a mechanism for thoughtful and public examination of the issues surrounding local taxation and the loss of economic diversity resulting from reliance on the residential property tax in the Town of Concord.
The mission of the Local Tax Fairness Committee is 1) to secure enabling legislation to permit Massachusetts cities and towns to enact a local income tax to replace (entirely or) in part the residential property tax by working to amend the Articles in the Massachusetts Constitution that have been interpreted as preventing such a local tax, and 2) when enabling legislation is in place, to secure a vote of Town Meeting to enact the enabling legislation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee will be asked to prepare the way for passage of enabling legislation similar to the model described in the Status Report of the Local Tax Fairness Subcommittee dated July 8, 2008. In addition to internal discussions, the Committee will continue the earlier subcommittee's formal and informal exchanges with Town officials, state legislators, the Massachusetts Council on Aging, and officials and citizens of other towns.
The Committee will report periodically to the Board of Selectmen summarizing its progress and may conduct public information sessions or hearings as it deems necessary.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
The Committee will consist of up to nine members, and a majority of appointed members shall constitute a quorum. Members will be appointed for a term of three years. Given the lengthy process that may attend securing a constitutional amendment, members may serve more than two terms.
The Committee shall elect a chair and a committee clerk, who will be responsible for maintaining the record of the committee's discussions, votes, and actions. All meetings will be conducted in conformance with the Open Meeting Law including the proper notice and posting of meetings, and all records will be maintained in conformance with the Public Records Law.
Requests for staff assistance or operating expenses will be made through the Town Manager who will endeavor to comply with reasonable requests.
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