HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02-08 Rules Committee Minutes4134L 1 2/9/90 GT/DK
Town of Reading Rules Committee
Minutes No. 10, February 8, 1990
The Rules Committee met at the Town Hall Conference Room at 7:30 P.M.
Rules Committee members present were:
H. Higgott
R. Lynch
0. Smith
S. Nitzsche
G. Theophanis
V. Carlson
Minutes No. 9 were approved by a vote of 6:0. Guest was R. Graham,
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Graham supports starting Town Meeting on
time regardless of the number of members present to get promptness started.
This may require a charter or laws change. He feels that apparent lack of
confidence in the credaibility of the administration is confined to a vocal few
Town Meeting members, witness the vote outcome. He feels that the Selectmen
cannot exercise more leadership in Town Meeting because of the power
established in the Town Manager by the Charter, although he does not feel that
there is a great difference between the Town Manager/Selectmen and
Superintendent/School Committee relationships. He feels Town Meeting
frustration is due to a combination of the power given to the Town Manager by
the charter, fiscal constraints of Proposition 2 1/2 and labor contracts.
Discussion turned to the warrant. Graham feels Town Meeting does not
know exactly what it wants in terms of amount of background information. He
agrees that the Rules Committee would be a good vehicle for transmitting Town
Meeting member desires to the Administration. The subject of pretown meeting
precinct meetings arose, and it was agreed that we should consider reviving
this practice. Graham feels that within limits the moderator should take a
stronger position in controlling repeat speakers. He does not feel strongly
on how additional Town Meeting sessions should be provided more specials or
an`additional regularly scheduled. He brought up the issue of Town Meeting
falling on a holiday such as Passover. He suggested that the Selectmen may
move to change Annual Town Meeting to a different month. It was also
suggested that the moderator postpone the session to the next day on a
meeting-by-meeting basis.
Next meeting either March 6 or 8.
Meeting adjourned 9:20 P.M
R,e,pectfu1 submi ed
George A. Theophans Clerk