HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-29 Bylaw Committee Minutes rr' A4Town of Reading r RECEIVEDMeeting Minutes R 0 �Z�AI 1171 OCT
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: i 3 PM 3: 01
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2020-07-29 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Discuss proposal for new Stretch Session: General Session
Energy Code Bylaw with Town Planning
Dept. personnel; Discuss Residency
Requirement Bylaw 3.3.1.3; Ongoing review
of Bylaws - Articles 1 through 8
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jeff Strubel, Chris O'Donoghue, Jesse Arnold, Steve Crook, Jason Clarke
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Matt Kraunelis, Linda Snow-Dockser, Diana Halsey, Sherilla Lestrade, Linda
Phillips,
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jason Clarke
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting called to order at 7:36pm
Discussion of proposal for new Stretch Energy Code Bylaw with Town Planning Dept.
personnel; Bylaw Committee expressed desire to know who will drive the process and
present the change to Town Meeting; Town Planning dept will keep chair informed as
process moves forward
Reorganization of officers
--Discussion and nominations
Jeff Struble, Chair
Arnold nominated, Crook seconded
Passes 5-0
Jason Clarke, Vice-chair
Struble moved, Jesse seconded
Passes 5-0
Jesse Arnold, Secretary
Struble nominated, Crook seconded
Passes 5-0
Discussion Residency Bylaw 3.3.1.3
Page 1
Public Comment:
—Linda Snow-Dockser: Believes it could be useful for certain non-residents who were
vetted, approved and appointed by the respective committee, such as leaders of religious
organizations in Reading who may not be residents; is thinking long-term; Chair states that
topic at hand would not apply to the specific Bylaw in discussion (3.3.1.3)
Diana Halsey - spoke to neighbors, consensus is if a nonresident wants to be on the town
they should move to the town
Sherilla Lestrade - Is on Human Rights committee, thinks that residents such as business
owners in the town, parents with students in the school system, should be able to have a
voice on matters that effect them; example, a business owners who pay taxes in Reading
Board discussion - Clarke: any changes to nonresident status on boards best addressed in a
charter; Arnold concurs
Sherilla Lestrade - says five years (for charter changes) is a long time; would like to see
some form of allowance for such situations
Linda Phillips - Says any changes should be done in-depth through the charter process
Struble proposes revising 3.1.3.3 to: "Members of all appointed boards, commissions and
committees created in Article 3.3 shall reside in the town of Reading at the time of their
appointment and during their time of office. Any sitting member of any board, committee or
commission, who shall cease to be an inhabitant of the Town, shall immediately cease to be
a member of that board, committee or commission."
Steve Crook - agrees with wording
Jason Clarke - suggests changing inhabitant to resident
Jesse Arnold - recommends changing the last sentence, change "that" to "any"
Jeff moves to change wording to: ""Members of all appointed boards, commissions and
committees created in Article 3.3 shall reside in the town of Reading at the time of their
appointment and during their term of office. Any sitting member of any board, committee or
commission, who shall cease to be a resident of the Town, shall immediately cease to be a
member of any board, committee or commission."
Arnold seconds
Passes 5-0
Postpone ongoing review of Bylaws - Articles 1 through 8
Approval of meeting minutes - postponed until next meeting
Next meeting - Wednesday September 2, 7:30pm
Chair requests Committee members research Stretch Energy Code
Motion to adjourn 9:28pm
Secretary motion, Chair seconded
Passes 5-0
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