4 ms·
Here in New England, the distinction between a city and a town is whether it is governed by a town meeting style government with selectmen, or by a city council
by technothrasher 7y ago
Here in New England, the distinction between a city and a town is whether it is governed by a town meeting style government with selectmen, or by a city council style government with or without a mayor. In MA at least, you cannot choose to be a city unless you have at least 12K in population.
- mroche 7y agoThe board of selectmen were always interesting in my town (at least to me, I didn’t really understand it as a child). Not sure if we are over the 12K minimum, but I doubt anyone would call us a city even if we were. Municipal ISP would have been cool, but I think power would be a better option first. A neighboring town (either Mansfield or Medfield) as municipal power and compares to us during storms they do great (as in fast response times and efforts to not lose power).
- technothrasher 7y agoMy father served on the board of selectmen for my town when I was growing up. He was so miserable during that time, it taught me to never, ever go into politics.
- mroche 7y agoI can imagine. By ‘interesting’ I should have clarified: it’s like watching a bunch of kids argue over who can take care of a pet rock better, but in reality the rock is a cat being neglected in the corner. Not all selectmen are terrible, but it only takes a few bad eggs to make it hell for everyone. I should also note that analogies are not my forte.