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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-07 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Minutes Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Date: 2013-10-07 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Review Charter Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Steve Crook: Precinct 2 Margaret Russell: Precinct 3 Paul Sylvester: Precinct 3 David Mancuso: Precinct 4 Phil Rushworth: Precinct 5 Janice Jones: Precinct 5 John Segalla: Precinct 7 Jeff Struble: Precinct 7 Carolyn Whiting: Precinct 7 Bill Brown: Precinct 8 Alan Foulds: Town Meeting Moderator Members - Not Present: Richard Coco: Precinct 4 Phil Pacino: Precinct 5 John Carpenter: Precinct 7 Glen Hartzler: Precinct 4 Others Present: Laura Gemme: Town Clerk Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Philip Rushworth Topics of Discussion: Call to order 7:33pm Discussion Article 1 1.3 - What is a prudential affairs? Discussion Article 2 2.1 Makeup of town meeting Discussion size of town meeting of 192 Can we reduce the size of town meeting to 144? - Need a full charter review Can we have at-large town meeting members? - Laura to find out more info Lowering the number of town meeting members hurts some precincts What determines precincts size, can we have fewer or more? Move to reduce the size of town meeting to 144 2.2 Can we make the boarders of precincts whole streets not down the center? Clerk will check, but does not believe we can address "Any town election..." Should this section be located in 2.1? Page 1 1 Charter Review Committee 2013-10-07 Should the first sentence of 2.3 "The registered voters..." be moved to 2.1 or strike? Motion by Jeff Struble. to edit as follows: 2-1 Composition The legislative body of the Town shall be a representative Town Meeting consisting of one hundred ninety-two (192) members from eight (8) precincts who shall be elected by the registered voters in each precinct in accordance with all applicable elections laws. Town Meeting shall 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. 2-2 Realignment of Precincts When required by law or every ten (10) years, the Board of Selectmen shall review and, if necessary, re-divide the territory of the Town into eight (8) plainly designated precincts. The precincts shall be divided into as nearly an equal number of inhabitants as possible. The territory of each precinct shall be continuous and as compact as possible. The territory of each precinct shall be defined as near as possible by the center line of known streets or other well-defined limits. Within ten (10) days of any precinct revision, the Board of Selectmen shall file a report on the revisions with the Town Clerk, the Board of Registrars of Voters and the Board of Assessors. The report shall include a map(s) and a list of the inhabitants' names and addresses. The Board of Selectmen shall also post the map and list in the Town Hall and in at least one public place in each precinct. The revision shall be effective on the date it is filed with the Town Clerk, and the Town Clerk shall notify the Secretary of State of the revision in writing. Any town �e.�.ide ele, ion shall he hel.rl at the same time fe r....each inc _a place or P 11y l.%J II VV luc c1clL1%J11 O11U11 Vc Ilclu al, lJlc Jalllc LJlllc Iul cu%.11 L/I Cl.11 ll.l, al, a VIU%lc ul places designated by the Selectmen. 2-3 Town Meeting Membership 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) Town Meeting Members to represent the precinct. Terms of office shall be determined by the number of votes received. The eight (8) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for three (3) years, the eight (8) receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for two (2) years, and the next eight (8) candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for one (1) year from the day of election. At each Annual Election thereafter, the registered voters in each precinct shall elect eight (8) Town Meeting Members to represent the precinct, and shall also elect Town Meeting Members to fill any vacant terms. After each election of Town Meeting Members, the Town Clerk shall notify each Town Meeting Member of his election by mail. In the event of a tie, ballot position shall determine the order of finish. At each A„„ual Election thereafter, the registered -voters in each precinct shall elect eight (8) Town Meeting Members to represent the precinct, and shall also elect Town Meeting Members +e fill vacant terms w nn any va�,anc terms. Page 2 Charter Review Committee 2013-10-07 After the revision of precincts, the term of office of all previously elected Town Meeting Members from the revised precincts shall cease upon the certification of the election by the Town Clerk. of their successors. After each election of Town Meeting Members, the Town Clerk-shall-notify each Town Meeting Member of-his-election by mail. In the event of a tie write-in vote for a vacant Town Meeting position, the position shall be filled by a vote of the remaining Town Meeting Members of the precinct, from the write-in candidates whose write-in votes were tied. The Town Clerk shall give notice of the tie vote to the remaining Town Meeting Members of the precinct. The Town Clerk shall set a time and place for a precinct meeting for the purpose of filling the vacancy. The Town Clerk shall give notice of the meeting to precinct Town Meeting Members at least seven (7) days in advance and shall publish legal notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the community. A vacant position filled in this manner shall be filled for the entire remainder of the term. first sentence of 2.1 to read The legislative body of the Town shall be a representative Town Meeting consisting of one hundred ninety-two (192) members from eight (8) precincts who shall be elected by the registered voters in each precinct in accordance with all applicable elections laws. Town Meeting shall meet, deliberate, act and vote in the exercise of the corporate powers of the Town. Seconded by Phil Rushworth Motion passed 10-0 Discussion of 2.2 on sentence "Any town election.." Motion by Steve Crook to cut paragraph 4 of 2.2 "Any town wide election..." and move to 8-11 (c) seconded by Jeff Struble. Discussion Motion passed 10-0 Discussion of 2.3 Renaming of"Town Meeting Membership"? Rules of becoming a town meeting member, filling vacancies, tie breaks Motion by Jeff Struble to change the name of section 2.1 to "Composition and Election" seconded by Phil Rushworth. Discussion Motion withdrawn and Jeff Struble will come up with recommendation for this next meeting. Discussion of His/Her throughout the document Discussion of Tie Breaker for write-in vote Town Clerk to investigate 2.3 tie breakers Discussion of 2.3 "After the revision" Motion by Jeff Struble to move the sentence to the end of the first paragraph of of 2.3. Seconded by Bill Brown. Discussion Motion passed 10-0. Discussion of of 2.3 paragraph 3 "After the revision" Motion by Steve Crook add the words"previously elected" before Town Meeting Members and add the words "certification of the election by the Town Clerk" and strike "of their successors" to the third paragraph of 2.3 Seconded by Peg Russell. Discussion Motion passed 10-0. Page 3 Charter Review Committee 2013-10-07 Discussion of 2.3 paragraph 3. Motion by Peg Russell to move "After each election...." to the end of the first paragraph. Seconded by Steve Crook. Discussion Motion passed 10-0. Discussion of 2.3 paragraph 4 "in the event of a tie" Do we need this section? Do we need to duplicate this section? Town Clerk points out this section is for every 10 years election for precinct changes. 2.4 Town Meeting Sessions Discussion of"from time to time" being vague adjournment Does this section apply to committees such as smaller groups such as charter committee. 2.5 You can sign your own nomination papers. Discussion of requiring 10 votes to win seat of town meeting. Motion by David Mancuso to add "Nominations papers must be obtained in person by the candidate and signed in the presence of the Town Clerk or designee. Completed nomination papers..." to section 2.4 Seconded by Jeff Struble Discussion. Held for next meeting. Motion to adjourn by Phil Rushworth seconded David Mancuso Passed 11-0 Page 4