HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-08 ad Hoc - School Committee Legal Counsel Subcommittee MinutesQpv
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2023-05-08
Building: School -Memorial High
Address: 82 Oakland Road
Purpose: Open Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
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TOWN CLERK
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2623 MAY 17 PM 4: 0
Legal Counsel Subcommittee
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Superintendent Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Tom Wise and Sarah McLaughlin
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Stys, Director of Special Education
Allison Wright, Superintendent Thomas Milaschewski
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Tom Wise, Chair
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was held in person with remote participation available via Zoom. A recording of the meeting can
be found here with the Passcode x3#u6b+u.
Chair Wise called the meeting to order via roll call at 8:07 a.m. Mr. Wise walked through the agenda.
B. Public Comment
There was none.
B. Consent Agenda
Mr. Wise shared the minutes and made a minor correction.
Mr. Wise moved to approve the Legal Counsel Subcommittee meeting minutes of 04-10-2023. Ms.
McLaughlin seconded. The motion carried 2-0.
E.1. New Business - Review List of Fins Invitation to Participate was Sent To
Mr. Wise outlined that he went through everybody on the COSA website. Mr. Wise shared that the invitation
was sent to 14 firms. We expected to receive eight responses. We did receive seven responses.
E.2. New Business - Discuss Applications Received and, if necessary, Reduce the List to Six Firms
One of the seven firms that submitted was the District's current firm. Ms. McLaughlin expressed the opinion
that we didn't need to hear from the current firm. The administration expressed willingness to add another
interview slot. Mr. Wise outlined his concerns about the disconnect between the way current counsel presented
themselves in their submission and the culture we are trying to foster in the dishict. Dr. Stys raised concems
about the transition. Mr. Wise focused the conversation on the "to interview or not to interview discussion'. He
also outlined that one submission came in after the deadline so that firm could be removed for missing the
deadline. Dr. Milaschewski expressed an interest in keeping that firm in the process and understanding why
they applied late. Ms. McLaughlin asked how late they were, and Mr. Wise informed the group that the
submission came three hours and 30 minutes late. Mrs. Wright asked if we could still consider them even if
they aren't interviewed. This led to a compromise to allow the Subcommittee to include current counsel in the
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final round if it was agreed they were one of the best firms for consideration. Thus, the Subcommittee and
administration team agreed to move the following fines forward to first-round interviews:
• Lyons Law Group, LLC
• Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP
• Murphy, Lamers, & Murphy
• Norris, Murray, & Peloquin, LLC
• Stoneman, Chandler, & Miller
• Valerio, Dominello, & Hillman, LLC
E.3. New Business— Review the Decision Rubric to Normalize Expectations for Scorn
Mr. Wise introduced the topic and the goal of understanding what a score of t is vs. 8 is vs. what is a 3
(average). Dr. Stys said that it was hard to level -set until we interview firms and can level -set based on
responses. Further discussion ensued on how to assess based on questions. Mr. Wise mentioned that he will
create a tab per person and add a notes column. The notes column could then be used as part of the level -set
discussions. Dr. Milaschewski asked how the scores would be used. Mr. Wise outlined how the numeric
number will provide initial numbers, but then the discussion will ensue about which firms to carry forward.
EA. New Business — Discuss the Method of Gathering and Asking Questions for Preliminary Interviews
Discussion started on the process of asking questions —round-robin vs. a single person asking questions. Dr.
Stys wanted to see how people respond and whom they talk to in the response. Mr. Wise asserted that if one
person asks questions and the answer is only to that person, then we see they aren't focusing on everybody in
the room, that would be a negative. The group engaged in further discussion about maleffemale dynamics and
making sure we can stay on fime. The group agreed to have one person ask the questions and keep the
interview on time while others can chime in with clarifying questions. The group agreed Mr. Wise would ask the
questions.
Mr. Wise said that we need somebody else to receive the questions since he and Ms. McLaughlin cannot send
questions to each other, or they would violate CML. The group agreed to send questions to Olivia Lejeune and
carbon copy Dr. Milaschewski for collation and alignment.
The Subcommittee and the administrative team agreed to meet at 3:30 p.m. on Friday to review and align
interview questions.
Motion to adjourn by Mr. Wise, seconded by Ms. McLaughlin at 8:66 a.m. The motion carried 2-0
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