HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-02 ad Hoc Charter Review Committee Minutes� Fq
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
itECEIVED
IOWN CLERK
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: FADING, MASS.
Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee 1014 DEC 10 P Ip ti
Date: 2014 -06 -02 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Charter Review Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Precinct 2: Steve Crook, Alan Foulds
Precinct 3: Peg Russell
Precinct 4: Glen Hartzler
Precinct 5: Phil Pacino, Janice Jones
Precinct 7: John Segalla, Carolyn Whiting
Precinct 8: BIII Brown
Members - Not Present:
Precinct 3: Paul Sylvester
Precinct 4: Richard Coco
Precinct 5: Phil Rushworth
Precinct 7: John Carpenter, Jeff Struble
Others Present:
Town Clerk: Laura Gemme
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alan Foulds, Acting Clerk
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Town Meeting moderator Alan Foulds at 7:30
PM.
On a motion by Phil Pacino and seconded by Steve Crook the minutes of May 12, 2014 were
approved by a vote of 6 -0 -2 with the following amendments: A line was Included that
referenced a discussion of a recommendation from the finance committee. It asked that any
partial term not count toward the nine -year limitation of service on the committee. This
committee had previously decided on a similar plan, whereby any partial term under two
years would not count toward the restriction. The committee took no further action.
Additionally, the first name of Ms. Russell was changed to "Peg."
The Chair pointed out that the Town Clerk was to investigate issues concerning
standardization of referendum laws. She will report back at the next meeting.
4 -13 Advisory Sub - committees
Bill Brown distributed a document spelling out potential changes to the second paragraph of
Article 4 -13 concerning the appointment or dissolution of Advisory Sub Committees. The
substance of the proposal was tabled.
Article 7 Finances and Fiscal Procedures
The committee reviewed Article 7, and made no changes.
8 -5 Computation of Time
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On a motion by Bill Brown and seconded by John Segalla it was voted 7 -0 to remove the
phrase "not including Saturdays, Sundays or Legal Holidays" from Article 8 -5 Computation
of Time.
8 -7 Definitions
Alan Foulds moved,and Steve Crook seconded a proposal to change"Exofficio" to "Ex
Officio" in two places on article 8 -7 (b). It was amended to add a hyphen, rather than a
space. It carried by a vote of 7 -0.
On a motion by Bill Brown and seconded by Phil Pacino, the words "and committee thereof"
were added after the words "Town Meeting" on the first line of 8 -7 (e), by a vote of 7 -0
By concensus, a comma was added after the word "Town" at the end of the first line of 8 -7
(k).
On motions by Bill Brown and seconded by John Segalla, the following definitions were
added to Chapter 8 -7:
Business Day - A day that Town Hall is open to the general public. Vote, 8 -0
Ad Hoc Committee - A committee appointed or dissolved under section 4 -13. Vote, 8 -0
Advisory Sub - committee - A committee created by an existing committee consisting of
members of that committee. Vote, 7 -1.
Constitution - Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vote, 8 -0.
General Law(s) - The General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
8 -13 Recall Procedures
On a motion by Bill Brown and seconded by Phil Pacino, the following changes were made to
the chapter:
In Section (a) the words "No recall petition shall be filed against an officer within three (3)
months after he takes office." Were added as a new sentence. Vote, 8 -0.
Section (g) was changed by removing the words "within three (3) months after he takes
office, or in the case of an" so that Section (g) reads:
Repeat of Recall Petition - No recall petition shall be filed against an officer subjected to
a recall election and not recalled thereby, until at least six (6) months after the election at
which his recall was submitted to the voters." Vote, 8 -0.
Bill Brown made a motion to remove Chapter 9 In Its entirety. Steve crook seconded. An
alternate motion was made by Phil Pacino, and seconded by Steve Crook to remove sections
9 -4 through 9 -6, leaving sections 9 -1 through 9 -3 intact. After ensuing discussion, it was
voted 5 -3 to remove the section in its entirety.
Before adjournment, discussion took place concerning topics for the next two meetings. At
the next meeting the committee will review information from the Town Clerk and Town
Counsel concerning standardization of Referendum procedures, and the definitions of
"standing committee," "Special Meeting" (section 8 -10), and the word "cause." For the
meeting following that the Town Clerk will invite the Town Manager and the Chairman of the
Board of Selectmen to discuss proposed changes, to hear John Arena's opinion of
referendum procedures, and to arrange for this committee to attend a meeting of the board
of selectmen.
It was decided that the next two meetings will be held on Monday, June 16 and Monday,
June 30.
On a unanimous vote the committee adjourned at 9:21
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