Marion COA board plans to dissolve itself
MARION — The Council on Aging Advisory Board is ready for a change.
The advisory board appeared before the Select Board on June 1 looking for one thing: to dissolve itself.
“It’s a different request,” Town Administrator Jay McGrail said. “I’ve never had a board come to me asking to dissolve.” “It’s a different request,” Town Administrator Jay McGrail said. “I’ve never had a board come to me asking to dissolve.”
Harry Norweb, Chair of the advisory board, noted that many of the duties of the board are now taken care of by Council on Aging Director Karen Gregory and her staff.
“The old joke about a meeting being a place where minutes are taken and hours wasted, alas, has become increasingly true for our board,” he said. “We have become more about hearing what others are doing, rather than direct accomplishments.”
Norweb said the board would like to dissolve, and become a more informal, volunteer-based group.
The Select Board unanimously approved a transition plan for the board, which includes a potential bylaw change at the Fall 2021 town meeting that would designate the Council on Aging Director and staff as the primary conduit to Marion’s senior community.
However, a full dissolvement of the board requires approval from the state.
In the meantime, the Select Board voted unanimously to allow the advisory board to suspend all meetings beginning July 1.
“There’s nothing that says a board is forever,” Select Board Chair Norm Hills said, adding that it may be time for the town to take a look into other boards as well.