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2404L 1 8/23/89 GT/DE <br />Town of Reading s Committee <br />Minutes No. August 22, 1989 <br />The Rules Committee met in-joint session with the Bylaw Committee in the <br />conference room of the Public Library at 7:30 P.M. Rules Committee members <br />present were: <br />V. Adams <br />H. Higgott <br />G. Theophanis <br />Bylaw Committee members present were: <br />E. Murphy <br />D. Carrol <br />N. Nordberg <br />G. Theophanis <br />Guests were Gerald Fiore, former Finance Committee chairman and Charter <br />Commission member and John Milano. Discussion commenced with the budget <br />consideration process. First considered was the issue of reentering the <br />budget after passage of certain line items to make adjustments. Next was the <br />form of consideration ie omnibus or line item, then information required of <br />department heads by Town Meeting on the budget. Fiore gave background as to <br />the rationale for the Finance Committee structure as revised by the Charter. <br />Murphy presented draft articles on reentering the budget prepared by P. Pacino <br />and N. Nordberg, members of the Bylaw Committee. Theophanis proposed allowing <br />the Moderator to set the rules on consideration form and reenter the budget <br />through an amendment to the reconsideration bylaw. Nordberg suggested <br />enacting a rule in the bylaws stating that if the Moderator is going to <br />establish a procedure for handling such issues as amendments, substitute <br />motion, the budget consideration form he shall promulgate those rules in <br />writing. Theophanis will prepare the appropriate amendments. <br />Members of both committees still felt that no action should be taken on <br />budget presentation format and information since the Town Manager is under <br />instructoriai motion to provide more information. <br />Discussion turned to expanding the number of Town Meetings. Fiore <br />preferred another regularly scheduled meeting as opposed to more specials. <br />Nordberg, Murphy and Carrol had no particular preference. <br />The final report of the Budget Format Review Committee dated April 29, <br />1988 was read, and it was noted that essentially all seven recommendations had <br />been complied with. <br />Fiore explained the Charter Commission's motivation in creating the <br />Rules Committee was to form a body representing and acting as the voice of the <br />Town Meeting members to improve the conduct of Town Meeting sessions. <br />Next meeting was tentatively set for Septemb 1.9 . <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />G rge Theopha, i s - <br />