HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-18 Rules Committee MinutesTown of Reading
Town Meeting Rules Committee a' W v w>
February 18, 1998
The Rules Committee assembled on Thursday, February 19, 1998 in Reading Town Hall
and the meeting was called to order at 7:45 by Alan Foulds, '-Town Moderator and
Chairman Pro Tempore. The following Precinct Chairmen were present: Virginia M.
Adams (Pct 2), Mary S. Ziegler (Pct 4), Robert Fuller (Pct 5), Mark Johnson (Pct 7), and
Fred Van Magness (Pct 8). Absent were Nancy L. Eaton (Pct 1,Alice Grau (Pct 3), and
Jacqueline Chipman (Pct 6).
The first order of business was the election of a Chairman and Clerk of the committee.
For Chairman, the name of Mark Johnson was put in nomination by Mary Ziegler,
seconded by Robert Fuller. No other names were offered for nomination. The
nominations were closed and Mark Johnson was elected Chairman by a vote of 5-0-0.
Nominations were then opened for Clerk. The name of Frederick Van Magness was put
in nomination by Virginia Adams, seconded by Mary Ziegler and no other nomination s,
were forthcoming. The nominations were closed and Frederick Van Magness was elected.
Clerk by a vote of 5-0-0.
Mark Johnson assumed control of the meeting and began to discuss various suggestions
on the operation of Town Meeting as submitted to Alan Foulds recently. Following are
items voted by the committee:
• Discussion started around a Warrant article by Bill Brown. The committee decided
that the moderator should be a part of the Rules Committee but in an ex-officio
manner rather than chairman. It was further agreed that the committee should be
called together by the Moderator to elect a Chairman after the Annual Town Meeting,
as there may be no past Precinct Chairman reelected in the precinct caucuses. It was
further agreed that a 30 day window after the Annual Meeting to have the Rules
Committee meet was more reasonable than the 7 days suggested in the Warrant
article.
• Warrant motions - the committee felt that the Town should go to better steps to make
copies of Warrant motions made available to Town Meeting members. In this regard
and to cut down unnecessary paperwork and keep costs manageable, the committee
would like to recommend that only motions that exceed one overhead screen would
be appropriate for distribution to Town Meeting members. The concern is that it is
very hard to follow multi screen motions on the overheads when they differ from the
printed Warrant.
• On moving the question, it was agreed that clarification was in order and that the
Moderator should handle at the beginning of the session. It was agreed that moving
the question, when. requested would apply first to amendments on the floor. If there
were amendments on the floor, the "moving" would only apply initially to the
amendments. If "moved" and the amendments are voted, then the debate could
continue on the main motion until a subsequent motion to move the question is
offered. This process would be followed unless the amendments were very minor
• We discussed the issue of how to allow non Town Fleeting members to speak on
articles that have been "moved " for voting. It was agreed that while the Moderator
would have to accept the motion to move the question perhaps prior to non members
speaking, the Moderator agreed that he would make a special effort to inform Town
Meeting that he was aware of people who wanted to speak on the articles before the
vote is taken on moving the question.
• Concerning making a permanent rule for voting the Budget as it is now done, the
committee felt that they did not want to make this a hard and fast rule but they
acknowledged the process is going fine and should continue as is.
• A concern was raised about Town Meeting members not observing proper respect
during the saluting of the Flag, not removing hats, or being disruptive during
benedictions. The committee felt that each precinct chairman should discuss this
during precinct meetings and ask members to show the utmost respect during these
events. The Moderator will also monitor.
• Discussion was held concerning the canceling of a meeting if there is not a quorum
after 15 minutes have expired from the planned start. The committee felt that this was
not reasonable but that the Moderator may consider taking action if 30 minutes had
expired. It was suggested that Precinct Chairmen continue to remind their members
that it is important to be on time.
• Concerning reconsideration, consensus was that it should still. be requested by only
people on the prevailing side of the vote. The Moderator was asked to re-look at
wording in the Warrant to give better guidance to Town Meeting.
• Discussion took place as to whether the removal of Town Meeting members By Law
should be eliminated. The committee was unanimous in recommending that no action
be taken and that the By Law should stay in place.
• Discussion was held concerning Rules 5 and 6, with the committee deciding that the
Chairman should ask the By Law committee to review.
• The Committee discussed the possibility of reviving precinct meetings but felt that it
would be too cumbersome. They did believe that individual precincts may want to
take it upon themselves to schedule meetings if desired, which is within their control.
• Relative to whether Town Meeting needs better presentation materials, the
Committee felt that it would be very costly to get computer graphics capability for
such a large room. One member suggested that maybe a Halogen overhead projector
might be very helpful. Any action would be up to the Selectmen and. School
Committee and the Rules Committee did not want to specify changes.
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• When consecutive two thirds standing votes are needed, the moderator will explore
whether Town Meeting would agree to use the prior vote count to represent the
subsequent motion. This is just to cut down on the number of standing counts that can
happen consecutively.
The Chairmen then read a letter delivered to the Committee from Nancy Eaton. It
appeared she had left us a copy of a letter, in error, from the School Committee to Town
Meeting members concerning upcoming meetings on school building issues and the
committee was unsure of what her original intended letter might have been since we did
not receive a copy.
The Chairman accepted a motion to adjourn which was passed by a vote of 5-0-0 and the
meeting ended at 9:40PM.
Respectfully submitted,
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