Tisbury officials are beginning to discuss a potential change in the structure of its municipal government that would replace the town administrator’s job with the more independent position of town manager.
The town administrator, currently John (Jay) Grande, has limited decision-making power and must seek the approval of the select board for most executive actions. A town manager, by comparison, would have authority over all municipal departments and staff.
Mr. Grande said Tuesday that he supports the change, which is recommended strongly by the consulting firm that has been working with residents to develop a master plan for the town.
“Under the governance section of the master plan, one of the cornerstones... is the establishment of the position of town manager,” he said.
Making the shift in Tisbury would require a town meeting vote authorizing special legislation on Beacon Hill, said Mr. Grande, who encouraged the select board to form an advisory committee for that purpose.
The town finance and advisory committee has unanimously recommended the board also establish a capital planning advisory committee, fincom chair Nancy Gilfoy said.
“Capital planning is an important process that we need to strengthen... with prioritizing [and] figuring out funding sources,” she said, noting that the town owns multiple properties and has significant debt.
“The concern of the finance and advisory committee is we need to be more transparent to the taxpayers,” Ms. Gilfoy said.
Mr. Grande suggested the capital planning committee should include the town moderator, town clerk and members designated by the select and planning boards, along with himself and finance director Jon Snyder as non-voting members.
In the absence of select board member Christina Colarusso Tuesday, members John Cahill and chair Roy Cutrer took no immediate action on either the town manager committee or the capital planning committee recommendations, opting to take them up at the next board meeting March 7.
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