HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-18 ad Hoc - Charter Review Committee Minutes� Orq�o
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3 Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: `
Charter Review Committee
Date: 2024-12-18
Building:
Reading Town Hall
Address:
16 Lowell Street
Purpose:
General Business
Attendees:
Members - Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version;
Final
Chair Chris Haley, Jesse Arnold (remote), Jonathan Barnes, Geoff Beckwith
(remote), Alan Foulds, Ray Porter, Jeff Struble
Members - Not Present:
Andrew Grimes, Chuck Robinson
Others Present:
Town Manager Matt Kraunelis, Town Clerk Laura Gemme, Town Counsel
Ivria Fried (remote), Nancy Docktor
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.
Chair Chris Haley called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm, and welcomed new members Ray
Porter representing RMLD, and Town meeting member Jeff Struble.
Public Comment
Nancy Docktor of Pearl Street and Precinct One Town Meeting Member stated that her
instructional motion to change the Board of Health from an appointed to an elected board
was delayed, and she already resubmitted it to the Town Clerk for April Town Meeting, as
she believes it deserves wider Town Meeting discussion.
Vote on Vice Chair
Chair Chris Haley noted that Phil Pacino was the RMLD designee to the Charter Review
Committee, but he has subsequently stepped down, and the RMLD Board of Commissioners
(BOC) voted to appoint Ray Porter as their new designee. However, Mr. Pacino has not yet
submitted his resignation to the Town Clerk. Town Counsel Ivria Fried stated that while Mr.
Pacino should submit his formal resignation, as long as the RMLD BOC voted to change their
designee to Mr. Porter, he can participate in this meeting.
Alan Foulds nominated Jonathan Barnes for Vice Chair, which was seconded by
Jeff Struble. The Charter Review Committee voted 7-0-0 in favor.
Roll call vote: Jesse Arnold - Yes, Geoff Beckwith - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes,
Jonathan Barnes - Yes, Ray Porter - Yes, Jeff Struble - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
Discuss Result of Town Meetino Instructional Motion
Subsequent Town Meeting adjourned sine die before instructional motions were taken up, so
Nancy Docktor's instructional motion to change the Board of Health to elected could not be
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addressed at Town Meeting. Mr. Barnes clarified that if Town Meeting favors the change, it
could be made outside of the Charter Review process. Town Counsel Ivria Fried explained
that the charter can be amended at any time. Mr. Haley noted that if the Board is elected,
it would remove the requirement that one member be a Medical Doctor (MD), and he would
like to get Rick Lopez's opinion (current Board of Chair and an MD), on whether he would
run. The Committee discussed different scenarios to ensure the BOH would still have an
MD, such as requiring an MD, making some positions elected, but an MD appointed. Ms.
Fried stated that she would explore such possibilities through a Special Act, but would have
some hesitation. Geoff Beckwith noted that the more complicated the change, there may
be more resistance on Beacon Hill, and a lengthier process. Alan Foulds noted that the
original charter commission in 1986 cut back on a lot of elected positions, and the Board of
Health was one of the Boards changed from elected to appointed. The consensus of the
Committee was that a broader discussion on the Board of Health matter with Town Meeting
was warranted.
Review of Proposed Charter Changes with Town Counsel
The RMLD BOC voted to make none of the charter changes proposed by previous Charter
Review Committee member and RMLD Commissioner Phil Pacino, as the BOC had never
reviewed the changes. However, Ray Porter stated that some of those changes can be
made, and are consistent with current practice. He requested further review, as there are
some things that do not reflect how RMLD does or will ever do business, and other things
that the BOC might want to retain. After a lengthy discussion, the consensus of the
Committee was for any changes to be proposed by the full BOC, before asking the Charter
Review Committee to discuss and vote on them. Ms. Fried noted that as of 2015, section
3.5 pertaining to RMLD was found consistent with state law. She will also ask the Attorney
General's office whether the current charter is in conflict with state law. Ray Porter will
request that the changes be addressed at the BOC meeting in January.
The Committee continued the discussion of section 8.12.1 Removal Process. Following the
discussion from the last meeting, Ms. Fried provided additional suggested changes. Mr.
Barnes clarified a change he would like to see to the sentence "For purposes of Article 8.12,
the term appointing authority shall Include the board or commission... who exercises
appointment power pursuant to law or otherwise obtained through delegation.", to "any
board or commission," and cited the example of an individual being removed by the Select
Board, instead of the Permanent Building Committee Appointment Committee. Mr. Barnes
and Ms. Fried also debated about whether to change the second sentence, "The appointing
authority of any board or committee may remove..." to "or any municipal official
(presuming includes volunteers serving) or board or commission who exercises
appointment or removal power pursuant to law, delegated authority, or
unilaterally assumed". Mr. Barnes argued that if a board or committee were to create a
subcommittee, the appointing authority would unilaterally assume the removal power. Ms.
Fried argued that an appointing authority would need to have power through law, or be
properly delegated that power. Mr. Barnes agreed that it could be removed.
Ms. Fried stated that she had one more proposed revision to the referendum section 2.15.
She noted ambiguity in the referendum provision, which states that no action of Town
Meeting is final until the expiration of 7 days. She suggested adding clarity to the section to
ensure members of the public know whether they need to have certified signatures within
that 7 -day period. The Committee raised concerns about the Board of Registrars' role in the
certification process and suggested extending the period for Town Meeting action to be
effective to 10 days. The group agreed to revise the provision, keeping the 7 -day period for
individuals to collect signatures, giving the Board of Registrars a short period of time to
certify, and extending the period for Town Meeting action to be effective to 10 days. Ms.
Fried will circulate a draft of the revised provision for review.
Mr. Struble asked whether an interim Town Manager should be given the same benefits as
an appointed Town Manager. Ms. Fried explained that a lot of interim Town Managers will
take it as a contract gig, paid hourly, and would not necessarily receive benefits. Mr.
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Struble felt that it was still inconsistent, and could be tightened up. He will send his
suggestions to Ms. Fried, and the Committee will discuss at their next meeting.
Discuss Timeline to Complete the Charter Review Process
Ms. Fried will meet with the Attorney General's Office on January Ph and get answers to
questions raised at this meeting. Changes that need to go through the amendment process
will need to go to the ballot. Ms. Fried advised that if the amendments go to Town Meeting
this coming April, they must be put on the ballot within 2 months, potentially coinciding with
other ballot questions including Killam and possibly ReCAL. The Committee agreed to target
the November Town Meeting Instead to avoid comingling the charter amendments with
other Issues. Ms. Fried will clarify with the Attorney General whether the election would
need to be held within sixty days of Town Meeting, or the first election after sixty days
following Town Meeting.
Future Meetina Dates/ Future Agenda Items
The next meeting will be held on February 10th In the Conference Room. The Committee
will review Town Counsel's recommended updates to Section 2.15, and Rh1LD updates.
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Geoff Beckwith, seconded by Jonathan Barnes, the Charter Review
Committee voted 5-0-2 to approve the meeting minutes of October 23, 2024, with
Jeff Struble and Ray Porter abstaining, as they were not present at the meeting.
Roll call vote: Geoff Beckwith - Yes, Jesse Arnold - Yes, Jeff Struble - Abstain, Ray
Porter - Abstain, Jonathan Barnes - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
On a motion by Alan Foulds, seconded by Jonathan Barnes, the Charter Review
Committee voted 7-0-0 to adjourn at 9:14pm.
Roll call vote: Geoff Beckwith - Yes, Jesse Arnold - Yes, Jeff Struble - Yes, Ray
Porter - Yes, Jonathan Barnes - Yes, Alan Foulds - Yes, Chris Haley - Yes.
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