[MassHistPres] auxiliary commissioners

[Chris Skelly]

The state law for local historical commissions, MGL Chapter 40, Section
8d, does not specifically allow for the appointment of alternate or
associate members to the local historical commission.   However, MGL
Chapter 40C, the historic districts act, does allow for the appointment
of alternate members that can vote when a full member of the historic
district commission is unable to vote due to absence or other reasons.  

So, if your local historical commission is also a historic district
commission, then alternate members are allowed.  

Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission

-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of p schneider
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 4:33 PM
To: Matthew B. Bronski
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] auxiliary commissioners

I think there may be some confusion, in usage, between "auxiliary" and 
"alternate" members. When you write that the auxiliary members are 
non-voting does that mean that they never vote?

In Worcester, we have "alternate" members (defined by our bylaws) who 
vote, in order to provide a quorum, only when regular members are 
absent. Since our alternate members do have an official vote at times, 
they are appointed by our city manager following the same procedures as 
appointing full members. If "auxiliary" members never vote, I would 
think they could be invited by the Commission to attend meetings and 
voice opinions much as any member of the general public can.

Peter Schneider
Worcester Historical Commission


Matthew B. Bronski wrote:
> Can a Commission that does not have auxiliary members (non-voting)
> create that position by a simple vote of the Commission, as part of
> their policies and procedures?  Or is there more involved in creating
> the position, like a new or amended Town Bylaw?
> 
>  
> 
> -Matthew Bronski, Winchester Historical Commission
> 
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