HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-24 Bylaw Committee Minutes6OrR
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Bylaw Committee
Date: 2022-03-24
Building: Virtual
Address:
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Zoom
RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
2022 APR 13 AM 10: 23
Session: Open Session
Purpose: Discussion of Articles 9 & 11 of the Version: Final
Town Meeting Warrant
Preliminary editing of bylaws for the
purposes of crafting a bylaw addressing
electronic voting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jeffrey Struble
Jason Clarke
Jesse Arnold
Kern Perry
Liz Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Laura Gemme
Matt Kraunelis
Carlo Bacci
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jesse Arnold
Topics of Discussion:
Article 9 of the Town Meeting Warrant
• Why are there names of the businesses there that won't be there?
• The Rite Aid property is mentioned 2x.
• The Bylaws Committee also discussed the legal significance of the line in the Article
which read:
o "and that the annual spending limits for the revolving fund are set as follows"
• Defer voting until we know if the names of properties should be removed, and if the last
line of the bylaw should be removed or not.
Article 11 of the Town Meeting Warrant
• How much is the funding for the community garden?
o There is currently a $10,000 earmark.
• Jeff Struble made a motion to recommend article subject to condition that expenditure
limits be listed as 10,000, Jason Clarke seconded the motion.
• The motion was approved in a 5-0 vote.
Discussion of Possible Bylaw Edits to Create Electronic Voting
• Jeff Struble presented the following proposed bylaw changes:
Page I 1
o Proposed Amendment to Rule 13 of General Bylaw Section 2.2.1
• Current Bylaw
• When a question is put, the vote on all matters shall be taken by a show
of hands, and the Moderator shall declare the vote as it visually appears.
If the Moderator is unable to decide the vote by the show of hands, or if
the decision about the vote is immediately questioned by seven (7) or
more Members, or if the Moderator determines that a counted vote is
required such as for a debt issue or Home Rule Petition, the Moderator
shall determine the question by ordering a standing vote, and shall
appoint tellers to make and return the count. On request of not less than
twenty (20) members, a vote shall be taken by roll call.
o Proposed revisions to the Bylaw (as edits)
• When a question is put, the vote on all matters shall utilize electronic
voting technology as provided by the Town Clerk in consultation with the
Town Moderator and approved by Town Meeting to tally the vote
according to each Member's name and present the results immediately to
the assembled body. The Moderator shall therein formally declare the
result of the vote. All such tallies shall be part of the permanent record of
that Town Meeting's deliberations. The Moderator may request a non -
tallied vote by a show of hands on procedural matters only. be taken oy
count.a show ef hands, and the Medemtni, shall dpn'aFe the vote as it v sually
aPPeaFG. If the M9d@Fat0F is IRRIDIS t9 deride the vote by the show a
hands, OF If the der; 6 an about the vote ;a mmediately quest erred Ig
seven (7) GF FAGFe Members, GF IF the MadeFat9F determines that a
Gounted vote 6 FeqW Fed A -'Gh aS far A debt Rs -,a 9F Heme Rule Petition,
the Moderator shall determine the qu( ling veto,
On request of not
less than twenty (20) members, a vote shall be taken by roll call in which
each Member shall be called on by the Town Clerk to declare their vote
on the matter. The Town Clerk shall tally these votes electronically and
present the results as described above. The Moderator shall therein
formally declare the result of the roll call vote. All such roll call tallies shall
be part of the permanent record of that Town Meeting's deliberations.
o Proposed revisions to the Bylaw (as final)
• When a question is put, the vote on all matters shall utilize electronic
voting technology as provided by the Town Clerk in consultation with the
Town Moderator and approved by Town Meeting to tally the vote
according to each Member's name and present the results immediately to
the assembled body. The Moderator shall therein formally declare the
result of the vote. All such tallies shall be part of the permanent record of
that Town Meeting's deliberations. The Moderator may request a non -
tallied vote by a show of hands on procedural matters only. On request
of not less than twenty (20) members, a vote shall be taken by roll call in
which each Member shall be called on by the Town Clerk to declare their
vote on the matter. The Town Clerk shall tally these votes electronically
and present the results as described above. The Moderator shall therein
formally declare the result of the roll call vote. All such roll call tallies shall
be part of the permanent record of that Town Meeting's deliberations.
• Jeff Struble explained that in his proposed edits, he kept the roll call vote because it can
have a different effect that a simultaneous vote.
• Several members of the committee expressed that they didn't want to go too far down
the rabbit hole of perfecting this before meeting the new rules committee.
• Liz Sullivan pointed out the need for a plan B if the tech fails — maybe leave the old part
of the bylaw in as the fall back.
• Laura Gemme pointed out that If there is data captured by the electronic voting it has to
become part of the public record.
Page 1 2
• Laura Gemme also pointed out that minutes have to be printed on minute paper which
would create an additional expenditure to be explored, and there must be a plan of how
to preserve and store the paper minutes.
• A motion was made by Liz Sullivan to approve the amended minutes from February 8,
2022, and seconded by Jason Clarke. The motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
• A motion was made by Jason Clarke to approve the minutes from November 30, 2021,
and seconded by Kern Perry. The motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
New Business
• The bylaw review is in chapter 8
• The next meeting is April 12, 2022 at 7:30pm on Zoom
Jason Clarke made a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Jeff Struble. The motion
passed by a vote of 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07pm.
Page 13