HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-11 ad Hoc - Charter Review Committee Minutesc,�c orgr,�a
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
P�la(pPP�P
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2023-12-11
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Charter Review Committee
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
er
G
Chair Chris Haley, Vice Chair Phil Pacino, Jesse Arnold, Geoffrey Beckwith,
Jonathan Bames, William Brown, Alan Foulds, Chuck Robinson
Members - Not Present:
Andrew Grimes
Others Present:
Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Assistant Town Manager Matt Kraunelis
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
Chair Chris Haley called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm
Public Comment
Phil Pacino stated that RMLD General Manager Greg Phipps plans to attend a future meeting
to speak on section 3.5.
Discussion on Content and Potential Changes to Charter Article 5 and Article 6
Article 5
The Committee continued with updates to "Select Board", and gender -neutral pronouns and
titles.
Section 5.1 Appointment Qualifications and Term of the Town Manager: The Committee
agreed to modify the qualifications to three (3) years of City or Town Manager/Assistant
Town Manager experience or five (5) years of equivalent level of public or private sector
experience. They also discussed parameters surrounding incentives for years of service.
Mr. Haley will ask Bemie Lynch, the consultant contracted to recruit the new Town Manager,
questions raised regarding termination in typical Town Manager contracts. Also, he will ask
Town Counsel to advise on Town Manager compensation.
Section 5.2 Powers and Duties: Chris Haley stated that Town Counsel noted that the School
Committee and RMLD Board of Commissioners are referenced throughout the Charter, and
recommended considering adding the Board of Library Trustees If the Town Manager is not
the Chief Procurement Officer for the Library. Assistant Town Manager Matt Kraunelis will
confirm.
Section 5.3 Ombudsman: Assistant Town Manager Matt Kraunelis stated that he feels that
"Ombudsman" is a misnomer, as the title has very different responsibilities In healthcare.
He receives a lot of calls from nursing homes seeking advice, and other residents do not
Page 1 1
understand the role. He recommended changing the title to something more intuitive for
residents. The Committee agreed to change the title to Constituent Services Officer.
Section 5.5 Removal Procedures: The Committee discussed at length whether to amend the
resolution notification of "forthwith" to a time certain, but ultimately agreed to leave it in
place.
Article 6
Section 6.2 Town Counsel: Committee members discussed and added clarifications to the
section that Town Counsel can be an individual or a law firm. Members requested to have
Town Counsel comment on Special Counsel, should it ever be needed.
All other sections were reviewed and amended with continued updates to Select Board,
gender neutral pronouns, and other minor grammatical changes.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Chuck Robinson, seconded by Jesse Arnold, the Charter Review
Committee voted 8-0 to approve the meeting minutes of November 14, 2023 as
presented.
Future Agenda Items
The next meeting will be held on January 8'h, 2024 at 7:00 pm, where the Committee will
review Articles Seven and Eight.
A subsequent meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 22ad, 2024, where the Committee
can begin to address answers from Town Counsel and others, and discuss setting up how to
Involve the community and Boards and Committees.
On a motion by Chuck Robinson, seconded by Alan Foulds, the Charter Review
Committee voted 8-0 to adjourn at 9:43 pm.
Pape 1 2