Politics & Government

Transparency Theme of Short-Term Goals for Dedham Selectmen

The board set out their goals for the next year at a meeting Thursday.

Dedham selectmen called upon themselves to become more transparent over the next year as the board set their goals for the next year.

The board already has made steps toward publishing how tax revenue in town with the Solutions Task Force taking charge.

Town Administrator William Keegan and selectman Sarah MacDonald are both committee members.

Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“People want to know what they are paying for,” said selectman Carmen Dello Iacono. “[Taxpayers] want to understand. They are like sponges.”

The is thinking of a graphical representation of the financial health of the town and how taxes are being spent using a four-page pamphlet.

Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Selectman chair Jim MacDonald said the pamphlet would be similar to the state effort to put the government’s “checkbook” online for public use.

“We can always do a better job and be transparent,” he said. “Everyone has a right to know where the money is being spent – and very simply.”

Jim MacDonald suggested including what companies have contracts with the town – and how much the town pays them.

“When we are talking about transparency – that is another step we can look at,” Jim MacDonald said. “Each penny spent goes somewhere.”

Other short-term goals include following through on a state grant for East Dedham, receiving a cultural designation that would open the town up for more grant money and hiring a human resources professional.

Selectman Michael Butler said he wanted an answer to what to do with the and a plan to prepare businesses for the .

“All of which are doable in the next 12 months,” Butler said. “A lot of decisions have to be made.”

Other short-term goals included:

  • A permanent location for town snow dump
  • Evaluate service contracts ending soon
  • Move closer toward a paperless board
  • Evaluate reporting structure of
  • Evaluate the future of the
  • Create quality, professional jobs throughout the town
  • Evaluate each town department for efficiency
  • Improve the town website


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