[Amended STM 3-2-2010 by Art. 10]
There shall be a Finance Committee of seven
Members ("Regular Member") who shall reside in the Town and be registered
voters therein. They shall be appointed by the Moderator for terms
of three years so that as nearly as possible 1/3 shall be appointed
each year. The Moderator may also appoint up to two Associate Members
for terms of three years. The Associate Member(s) shall be allowed
to participate in any and all Finance Committee meetings including
the right to ask questions but shall not be allowed to vote unless
the Associate Member is attending the meeting for purpose of voting
in the absence of a Regular Member. In addition to the foregoing,
any Associate Member(s) shall have the right to review prior minutes
of Finance Committee meetings for purposes of participating in any
future vote. In the absence of a Regular Member, an Associate Member
may vote on matters before the Committee.
[Amended STM 5-15-2007 by Art. 5]
The Finance Committee shall investigate all
proposals in the articles of the Warrant for any Town Meeting that
shall in any way affect the finances of the Town and recommend to
the Selectmen and Town at least seven days prior to the time of said
meeting a course of action thereon. Said recommendation shall include
a one-paragraph summary of the article, as well as the pros and cons
of each article. The Finance Committee shall consider all matters
relating to the appropriation, the borrowing and the expenditure of
money by the Town, its indebtedness, the administration of its various
offices and departments, and may make recommendations to the Town
or to any board, officers or committee relative to the municipal fiscal
affairs. In general, it shall make recommendations to the Town in
regard to any financial business of the Town. In the discharge of
its duties, the Committee shall by majority vote assign one or more
individual members of the Committee free access to all books of record
and account, bills and vouchers on which money has been or may be
paid from the Town Treasury, contracts, agreements, and any other
documents (printed or electronic) relating to financial matters of
the Town.