HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-27 ad Hoc - Charter Review Committee MinutesntitTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission
Date: 2023-09-27
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
TOWN CLERK
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Council: 2023 OCT 24 PH 3: 52
Charter Review committee
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Jesse Arnold, Jonathan Barnes, Geoffrey Beckwith (remote), Bill Brown, Alan
Foulds, Andrew Grimes, Chris Haley, Chuck Robinson
Members - Not Present:
Phil Pacino
Others Present:
Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Assistant Town
Manager Matt Kraunelis
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held In-person in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and remotely
via Zoom.
Call to Order:
Moderator Alan Foulds called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm.
Elect Chair and Vice Chair:
The first order of business was to elect a Chair and Vice Chair. Mr. Foulds opened the Floor
for nominations for Chair.
Bill Brown nominated Chuck Robinson for Chair, which was seconded by Jonathan Barnes.
Chuck Robinson nominated Chris Haley for Chair.
Town Manager Fidel Maltez read a statement from Phil Pacino, who was unable to attend
this evening's meeting, respectfully requesting to be considered for Chair or Vice Chair.
Jesse Arnold nominated Phil Pacino for Chair.
Chuck Robinson withdrew his name from consideration for Chair.
Chris Haley was elected Chair by a vote of 5-3.
Roll call vote: Chris Haley for Chris Haley, Chuck Robinson for Chris Haley,
Jonathan Barnes for Phil Pacino, Alan Foulds for Chris Haley, Jesse Arnold for Phil
Pacino, Bill Brown for Phil Pacino, Andrew Grimes for Chris Haley, Geoff Beckwith
for Chris Haley.
Chair Chris Haley then opened the Floor for nominations for Vice Chair.
Gage I I
Bill Brown nominated Phil Pacino for Vice Chair
Phil Pacino was voted as Vice Chair unanimously 8-0.
Roll call vote: Geoff Beckwith - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes, Chuck Robinson - Yes,
Jonathan Barnes - Yes, Jesse Arnold - Yes, Bill Brown - Yes, Andrew Grimes -
Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
Discuss Charter Review Committee Process:
Members offered several suggestions on how to proceed with the Charter Review process.
Bill Brown suggested adding a provision to the Charter, which nullifies any action taken by a
board or committee that Is not in compliance with the Charter. He also suggested asking
appointed boards and committees if they are satisfied with the number of members.
Town Clerk Laura Gemme suggested going through the Charter and subjects in order,
setting dates, then deciding which sections to review. Articles could be reviewed at one
meeting, changes sent to Town Counsel for review then distributed to the Committee, then
voted on at the subsequent meeting.
Alan Foulds noted that past Charter Review Committees had public meetings and meetings
with major boards and committees to hear their suggestions.
Geoff Beckwith suggested that It would be helpful to begin with a wholistic review of the
Charter before parsing It, hear from past Select Board Chairs on what worked and did not
work with the Charter, and call upon experts to share best practices in Charter
development.
Discuss next meetina dates:
Following discussion, the Committee agreed that meeting times going forward would be
7:00 pm. The next meetings were scheduled for Monday, October 16th, and Monday,
October 30th.
Future Meetina Agenda Items:
Jesse Arnold suggested that members review the current Charter ahead of the next meeting
and think about which boards and committees might want to weigh-in, and give them notice
that the Charter Review Committee would like to hear from them.
Geoff Beckwith stated that the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Association (MMMA) has a
Form of Government Committee that provides overviews and discussions to Charter Review
Committees across the state. He offered to contact the Chair of that committee, Michael
Driscoll, and invite him to the next meeting.
On a motion by Alan Foulds, seconded by Andrew Grimes. The Charter Review
Committee voted 8-0 to adjourn at 6:44 pm.
Roll call vote: Geoff Beckwith - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes, Chuck Robinson - Yes,
Jonathan Barnes - Yes, Jesse Arnold - Yes, Bill Brown - Yes, Andrew Grimes -
Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
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