HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-08 Bylaw Committee MinutesOWN OFq�Q'
Town of Reading RECEIVED
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Board - committee - commission - council: 2022 APR 13 PM 3: 09
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2022-02-08 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Discussion of the Bylaws
Committee's research into e -voting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jeff Struble
Jason Clarke
Jesse Arnold
Kam Perry
Liz Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Location: Berger Room
Session: Open Session
Version:
Matt KraUnelis, Laura Gemme, Carlo Bard, Carla Nazazaro
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jesse Arnold
Topics of Discussion:
How rigid should the e -voting be, should it be displayed, and what should get an
electronic vote?
• The Committee discussed that we can keep the definition of the system of e -
voting vague, but the structure of how it is used stricter. We don't want conflicts
if we switch systems because of technology.
• It was discussed that it individual Town Meeting Members have different
concerns and it is hard to classify types of motions as more trivial ones that
would never need electronic voting.
• Electronic voting which is displayed gives people the ability to make sure that
their vote is what they intended to cast
• Laura Gemme pointed out that one of the most prudent ways to proceed may be
to decide what we want to accomplish and let the IT group decide what
technology is proposed.
Discussion of how to draft bylaws
• Laura Gemme reminded the Committee that anything recorded become public
record (aka the raw data).
• The Committee discussed recording all votes with some exceptions, or recording
an aggregate of yes/no votes and then having a separate roll call vote.
o It was debated how to aggregate the votes, and whether this would
capture raw data on individual votes that could be parsed to discrete
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voters. And, if we have that raw data should it be shared live in town
meeting, and how would it be displayed? How would it be preserved in
the public record if it is not displayed?
• Laura Gemme pointed out that there are systems that record the
discrete votes without the request for a roll call, but also record roll
call votes.
The Committee discussed If we would give a definition of a roll call vote and how
it would look similar/different and whether the bylaws should display how this
vote is displayed in Town Meeting.
Discussion of what the options are with electronic voting
• The Committee discussed what the options are that are being presented to the
Rules Committee.
• The Committee discussed three possible scenarios as Reading explores a shift
to electronic voting in Town Meeting:
o Option 1:
• Everything remains the same
o Option 2:
• All votes are taken electronically
• All votes are recorded with names attached
o Option 3
• All votes are taken electronically
• Only roll call votes are recorded with names attached
• Are roll call votes displayed on a screen or read aloud by the moderator?
• The Bylaws Committee discussed that the Rules committee will have to
determine their vision for how to handle a roll call vote, to be presented to Town
Meeting for approval.
Discussion of how to handle electronic roll call votes
• The Committee discussed that one thing the Rules committee will have to flush
out is how to handle recording a name to a vote and it is displayed
contemporaneously or not. Or, would we want to imitate previous roll calls where
each vote goes one by one?
o The Committee outlined several ways to handle electronic roll call votes:
• Following the spirit with an aggregate vote and then a roll call vote
— get rid of a declared roll call vote
Liz Sullivan made a motion to adopt the minutes from 11.1.21 as amended, which was
seconded by Jason Clarke. Jesse Arnold, Jeff Struble, Liz Sullivan and Jason Clarke all
voted to accept the minutes as written. Kami Perry abstained due to not having been
present at that meeting.
New Business
The Committee discussed an email sent by Joseph Carnahan soliciting advice from the
Bylaws Committee with regard to creating a proposed bylaw change that would change
a Conservation Committee bylaw that involves a revolving fund to allow control of
invasive species. The Bylaws Committee agreed to discuss this at a future meeting,
and asked for Town Counsel to weigh in as well.
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Kern Perry made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Jason Clarke. There
was a unanimous vote to adjourn and the meeting adjourned at 9:06.
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