In January 2022, the League of Women Voters of Hingham (LWVH) initiated a study to determine what makes an effective executive branch of Massachusetts (MA) local government. The executive branch includes the Select Board (SB) and Chief Municipal Officer (e.g., Town Administrator, Town Manager).

Effectiveness was defined as the ability to remain proactive and progressive in identifying and responding to citizen needs, delivering services effectively and efficiently, identifying and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities, sustaining fiscal health, managing resources (people, budget, time), and ensuring and managing community involvement (communications, volunteers).

Study Committee membership was opened up to all active LWVH members; six members participated in the Study Committee. Study updates were periodically provided at member and annual meetings. Based on published and field research, the Study Committee identified four areas of focus and developed an overall finding for each:

• Goal Setting: Effective executive branches implement an annual and inclusive goal setting process that begins after the Town election and concludes in the fall. Goals support and inform the annual budget process.
• Internal Communication: Effective executive branches follow a common, consistent, predictable communication flow – both within the Executive branch itself and between the executive branch and other town committees, boards and commissions (Committees). This includes communications when committees are established, ongoing communications during the year, and communications related to the annual warrant/budget process.
• External Communication: Effective executive branches consistently disseminate information to citizens and follow a system with clearly defined responsibilities for responding to citizen inquiries and/or issues.
• Governance: Executive branches govern effectively when the roles and responsibilities of the Select Board, Town Administrator/Town Manager and Advisory/Finance Committee are clearly defined in charters or special acts. In addition, the effectiveness of the executive branch depends on constructive individuals who are seeking consensus on issues. They continuously develop policy by considering the governmental roles, responsibilities, and structure to address changes over time. These changes may include population, statutory guidelines, economic conditions, technology, peer community best practices and other community developments.

Two consensus meetings took place in late March/early April 2024. Members were required to attend both meetings in order to participate in consensus. The quorum requirement was met at both meetings and consensus was reached on all eleven questions. The recommended position statement is listed below:

As a means to provide more effective administration of the executive branch of town government responsive to the needs of the people, the LWVH:

1. Supports the executive branch establishing and implementing a consistent goal-setting process with specific outputs.
2. Supports the executive branch setting and publishing annual Select Board goals within 90 days of its annual reorganization.
3. Supports the Select Board establishing and publishing Select Board liaison assignments to all Committees it appoints. 
4. Supports the Select Board establishing a process or plan for regular and ongoing communication with and among all elected and appointed Committee chairs.
5. Supports the executive branch establishing a dedicated public information position(s) with committed resources.
6. Supports the executive branch establishing a process for responding to citizen communications with clear accountability and timeliness of response.
7. Supports the executive branch reviewing, updating, consolidating, and publishing all Select Board policies on the website.
8. Supports the executive branch ensuring that the Select Board and all its appointed boards and committees post all meeting minutes in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws.
9. Supports the Town conducting a comprehensive review of government operations and activities at least every 10 years, with the assistance of an external, qualified resource.
10. Supports a Town periodically reviewing its personnel administration practices, policies, and bylaws to ensure consistency with current Human Resources best practices.
11. Supports expanding the Hingham Select Board to five members to improve its effectiveness as a governing body.

The LWV Hingham voted to accept this position on May 22, 2024.

The full report  is here including the process, communities surveyed, questions posed to officials, published research reviewed, field research conducted, consensus meeting questions and comments.