HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-17 Rules Committee MinutesiW
f f
Rules Committee
30.
Annual Report
November 17, 2005
' tC,05 ry 4: X 3
Pursuant to the Reading Home Rule Charter, section 2-12, the Town Meeting Rules
Committee met on June 13, 2005 to review and make recommendations on possible
changes in the conduct of Town Meeting.
It was decided to recommend to Town Meeting that Rule 19 of article 2.2.1 of the
Reading Bylaws be changed to reference Town Meeting Time, 3rd Edition as the back-up
rules of order, replacing Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.
The change was recommended because it was felt by the committee that Town Meeting
Time is fine-tuned to deal with issues arising in Massachusetts town meetings, and
Robert's Rules is meant for more generalized meetings. A change would bring the town
into line with a majority of the towns in the Commonwealth that now use Town Meeting
Time.
By a vote of 6-0 the committee created a sub-committee to review both publications,
research the differences, and report back to the full committee.
On October 27, 2005 the Rules Committee met and reviewed the findings. At that time it
was voted 4-0 to present the town with a motion for the change, but added a clause to
maintain the status quo on the issue of tabling, considered the only major difference in
the two books.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan Foulds
Moderator and Non-voting Chair of the Rules Committee