2012-05-03 Annual Town Meeting Minutes

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School May 3, 2012 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:39 PM, there being a quorum present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ARTICLE 22 Presented in two motions Motion A Ben Tafoya, Board of Selectmen moved that the Town vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Great and General Court for a Special Act which will amend sections of Article 2 of the Reading Home Rule Charter as follows (note — Gross through represents language to be eliminated and bold represents new language): John Arena, Board of Selectmen moved to Dispense of the Reading Motion to Dispense Carried Amend the first paragraph of Section 2 -1 Composition to read as follows: The legislative body of the Town shall be a representative Town Meeting consisting of one hundred X82) forty four (144) members from eight (8) precincts who shall be elected to meet, deliberate, act and vote in the exercise of the corporate powers of the Town. Each precinct shall be equally represented in Town Meetings by members so elected that the term of office of one -third of the members shall expire each year. Any increase or reduction in the number of members of Town Meeting shall be phased in equally over a three year period Amend the first three paragraphs of Section 2 -3* Town Meeting Membership to read as follows: The registered voters in every precinct shall elect Town Meeting Members in accordance with all applicable election laws. Whenever any precincts are revised, the registered voters shall elect twenty-four (24) eighteen (18) Town Meeting Members to represent the precinct. Terms of office shall be determined by the number of votes received. The eight(8) six (6) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for three (3) years, the eight -(8) six (6) receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for two (2) years, and the next eight -(8) six (6) candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for one (1) year from the day of election. In the event of a tie, ballot position shall determine the order of finish. At each Annual Election thereafter, the registered voters in each precinct shall elect aght (8) six (6) Town Meeting Members to represent the precinct, and shall also elect Town Meeting Members to fill any vacant terms. After the revision of precincts, the term of office of all Town Meeting Members from the revised precincts shall cease upon the election of their successors. After each election of Town Meeting Members, the Town Clerk shall notify each Town Meeting Member of his election by mail. and, further, that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to allow the General Court to make substantive changes to the legislation, if necessary, without the need for another Town Meeting vote, in order to accomplish the purposes of the vote under this Article. Motion B James Bonazoli, Board of Selectmen moved that the Town vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Great and General Court for a Special Act which will amend sections of Article 2 of the