HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-17 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Minutes0 cry OF q� ,
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Town of Reading
=i Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
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(OWN CLERK
ADING, MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Charter Review Committee 7014 DEC 10 P W s0
Date: 2014 -03 -17 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Review Charter Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Bill Brown
John Carpenter
Steve Crook, Alan Foulds
Glen Hartzler
Janice Jones
Margaret Russell
John Segalla, Jeff Struble
Paul Sylvester
Carolyn Whiting
Members - Not Present:
Richard Coco
David Mancuso
Phil Pacino
Phil Rushworth
Others Present:
Staff: Town Clerk Laura Gemme
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alan Foulds, Chairman and Acting Clerk
Topics of Discussion:
After several minor corrections were made and accepted, on a motion by Bill Brown and
seconded by John Segalla the minutes from January 6 and January 27 were approved as
amended by a unanimous vote.
The minutes from the December 16 meeting are still outstanding.
Discussion on Previous items
Discussion Article 2, section 2.13
Bill Brown initiated discussion on the ability of two of the five selectmen to place an article
on the town meeting warrant, but a majority is needed for all other elected and appointed
bodies. Several motions were acted upon.
On a motion by John Carpenter and seconded by Bill Brown, a motion to allow two members
of any elected board to place an article on the warrant, the vote was 1 for and 9 against.
On a motion to change the term "voters" to "registered voters" was defeated by a vote of 0-
10.
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On a motion to change the term "registered voters" to `voters" throughout the charter, with
the exception of the definitions section, the vote was 10 -0.
Discussion Article 4, section 4.4
By acclimation it was decided to change "Board of Appeals" to "Zoning Board of Appeals" in
all cases.
Discussion Article 4, section 4.13
By a vote of 9 -0 it was voted to remove the word "advisory" from the section.
By a vote of 10 -0 it was voted to put a period after the word "charter" and add the words
"Standing Committees" before the words "shall be ..."
By a vote of 10 -0, it was decided to replace the comma with a period, delete the word
"and," and capitalize the word "Members."
Discussion on Chapter 5
Discussion Article 5, section 5.1
On a motion by Bill Brown and seconded by Steve Crook it was voted 9 -1 to delete section
5.5d and move Its contents to section 5.1 as the third paragraph.
By a vote of 4 -6 it was decided not to remove the word "voluntary" in the new third
paragraph and remove "whether voluntary or otherwise."
By a vote of 2 -8 it was decided not to add the phrase "one month's pay for each year of
service" before the words "not to exceed..." in the new third paragraph.
By a vote of 6 -4 it was decided to change the word "shall" to "may" in the new third
paragraph.
Discussion Article 5, section 5.2b
By a vote of 11 -0 it was decided to move the word "and" that appears after the words "fire
chief" to be between the words "police chief" and "fire chief," replacing the comma.
By a vote of 11 -0 it was decided to add "time" after "full- ".
Adiournment
On a motion by Bill Brown and seconded by John Segalla, it was voted 11 -0 to adjourn until
Monday, April 7.
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