By Brian Messenger
Staff writer
August 15, 2008 12:02 am ANDOVER — Officials will consider using a meeting facilitator to help guide next year's budget planning. Members of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee agree that improvements must be made from last year's talks when disagreements over the need for a Proposition 21/2 override and other issues led to months of contentious meetings. The use of an independent meeting facilitator has been proposed over the summer as a way to avoid a repeat of those budget battles, which resulted in a budget agreement less than two weeks before annual Town Meeting. But while all parties appear open to the idea of a facilitator, any official decision on the matter will likely occur after town, school and finance officials begin meeting again next month, according to Finance Committee Chairwoman Joanne Marden "I think the first time we get together we won't have decided," Marden said. Marden said a facilitator will have no power over the individual boards and committees when the time comes to recommend budget proposals at Town Meeting. Consensus must still be reached among the three groups' 19 members, she said. "This is all part of a much bigger discussion, in terms of what the process should be for coming up with budget recommendations for Town Meeting," Marden said. A meeting facilitator has been used successfully by a health insurance task force made up of town and school officials and representatives of town and school employee unions, said School Committee Chairwoman Debra Silberstein. "It could be very, very helpful in just streamlining the whole process, making the process more effective, efficient and probably more collaborative," Silberstein said. Silberstein and Selectman Alex Vispoli agreed that the three groups must begin working on preliminary budget planning in the fall before a facilitator is brought into the fold. "Currently everything's up for discussion," Vispoli said. "I just don't think that's the panacea for resolving potential (budget) gaps, but we're certainly open-minded." Marden said she believes the three boards can work together and balance the budget without a facilitator. "I don't believe it should be necessary," said Marden. "I just believe we can all work together. That's where I start." Silberstein, Marden and Selectman Chairman Ted Teichert have begun meeting this month to review both the problems and achievements that resulted from last year's budget process, and to discuss a plan for next year, Silberstein said. Marden said a fundamental disagreement developed last winter between town and school officials when it came time to determine if a Proposition 21/2 override would be necessary to balance the town's operating budget. "If there's still the same fundamental disagreements, then maybe there is a role for a facilitator," Marden said.
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